3Rs - search page

The issues addressed in this Report have been a subject of intense public debate over at least the past four hundred years. Feelings are strong on all sides of the issues, and in recent years reports of violent action against those conducting animal research in the UK have brought the matter to the forefront of public attention.

The Swiss 3R Competence Centre (3RCC) promotes the 3Rs principle (replacement, reduction and refinement of animal experimentation) among the scientific community and the public. To facilitate the development and implementation of effective 3R methods and improve animal welfare it challenges research paradigms and creates innovative alternatives to animal use.

CAAT is an academic, science based centre within the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the USA and the University of Konstanz in Germany which is  dedicated to the promotion of research intoin vitro and other alternative techniques, Three Rs education and information.

AALAS is an association of professionals that advances responsible laboratory animal care and use to benefit people and animals.

CCAC promotes the application of Three Rs in Canada. Through a website it provides the latest information on the Three Rs,   a search tool and a search guide. 

Vaccination of animals against disease protects them from suffering. However, this comes with an animal welfare cost - the safety and efficacy of vaccines is assessed in experimental animals and the tests involved can cause significant pain and distress. There is an ethical dilemma in protecting one set of animals at the expense of others but implementation of the 3Rs can help to resolve this. The research animals department works with researchers involved in vaccine testing and regulators to promote the 3Rs in this important area.