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</h1> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-lg-7"> <div class="anchor_menu_content s8080-component"> <div class="anchor-menu"> <h2 id="top" class="anchor-menu__title"> Contents </h2> <ul class="anchor-menu__items"> <li class="anchor-menu__item"><a class="anchor-menu__link" href="#what-are-the-3rs?" title="In page link to What are the 3Rs?">What are the 3Rs?</a></li> <li class="anchor-menu__item"><a class="anchor-menu__link" href="#definitions-of-the-3rs" title="In page link to Definitions of the 3Rs">Definitions of the 3Rs</a></li> <li class="anchor-menu__item"><a class="anchor-menu__link" href="#replacement" title="In page link to Replacement">Replacement</a></li> <li class="anchor-menu__item"><a class="anchor-menu__link" href="#reduction" title="In page link to Reduction">Reduction</a></li> <li class="anchor-menu__item"><a class="anchor-menu__link" href="#refinement" title="In page link to Refinement">Refinement</a></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="what-are-the-3rs?">What are the 3Rs?</h2> <div class="s8080-component text--width-limit"> <p>The <a href="http://altweb.jhsph.edu/pubs/books/humane_exp/het-toc" rel="noreferrer">principles of the 3Rs</a> (<strong>R</strong>eplacement, <strong>R</strong>eduction and <strong>R</strong>efinement) were developed over 50 years ago providing a framework for performing more humane animal research. Since then they have been embedded in national and international legislation and regulations on the use of animals in scientific procedures, as well as in the policies of organisations that fund or conduct animal research. <a href="https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/public-attitudes-animal-research-2018" rel="noreferrer">Opinion polls</a> of public attitudes consistently show that support for animal research is conditional on the 3Rs being put into practice. </p><p><a href="/who-we-are">The NC3Rs</a> is the UK’s national organisation for the 3Rs. Our <a href="/our-strategy">strategy</a> is to advance the 3Rs by focusing on their scientific impacts and benefits. We have re-defined the standard 3Rs definitions so that they are more reflective of contemporary scientific practice and developments.</p> </div> <h2 id="definitions-of-the-3rs">Definitions of the 3Rs</h2> <div class="s8080-component text--width-limit"> <p>The 3Rs were first defined by Russell and Burch in their book <a href="https://caat.jhsph.edu/principles/the-principles-of-humane-experimental-technique" rel="noreferrer"><em>The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique</em></a>. The NC3Rs has updated the definitions in line with common scientific parlance to highlight the importance of the 3Rs to modern research practices.<br> </p><table><thead><tr><th> </th><th>Basic</th><th>Updated</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><th>Replacement</th><td>Avoiding or replacing the use of animals in areas where they otherwise would have been used.</td><td>Accelerating the development and use of predictive and robust models and tools, based on the latest science and technologies, to replace the use of animals in addressing important research questions where they would have otherwise have been used.</td></tr><tr><th>Reduction</th><td>Minimising the number of animals used consistent with scientific aims.</td><td>Appropriately designed and analysed animal experiments that are robust and reproducible, and add to the knowledge base.</td></tr><tr><th>Refinement</th><td>Minimising the pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm that research animals might experience.</td><td>Advancing laboratory animal welfare by exploiting the latest <em>in vivo</em> technologies to minimise pain, suffering and distress and improve understanding of the impact of welfare on scientific outcomes.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> </div> <h2 id="replacement">Replacement</h2> <div class="s8080-component text--width-limit"> <p>Replacement refers to technologies or approaches which<strong> </strong>replace the use of animals in experiments where they would otherwise have been used.</p><p>For many years research animals have been used to answer important scientific questions including those related to human health. Animal models are often costly and time-consuming and depending on the research question present scientific limitations, such as poor relevance to human biology. Alternative models can address some of these concerns. In the last decade or so, advances in science and technology have meant that there are now realistic opportunities to replace the use of animals.</p><p>We divide replacement into two key categories, full and partial replacement.</p><p><strong>Full replacement</strong> refers to methods that replace the use of animals for research and testing purposes. It includes the use of human volunteers, tissues and cells, mathematical and computer models, and established cell lines – often referred to collectively as non-animal methods.</p><div class="text--highlight"><p>For more information on replacement, including the definitions we use for non-animal methods and new approach methodologies, see our page: <a href="https://nc3rs.org.uk/replacement-its-all-name" rel="noreferrer">Replacement – it’s all in the NAMe</a>.</p></div><p><strong>Partial replacement</strong> includes the use of some animals that, based on current scientific thinking, are not considered capable of experiencing suffering. This includes invertebrates such as <em>Drosophila</em>, nematode worms and social amoebae, and immature forms of vertebrates [1]. Partial replacement also includes the use of primary cells (and tissues) taken from animals killed solely for this purpose (i.e. not having been used in a scientific procedure that causes suffering).</p><p><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt;">1. In the UK, the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 sets out the developmental stages at which early vertebrate life forms are protected. The invertebrate </span><em><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt;">Octopus vulgaris</span></em><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt;"> is protected by the Act. </span><em><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;font-size:10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></p> </div> <h2 id="reduction">Reduction</h2> <div class="s8080-component text--width-limit"> <p>Reduction refers to methods that minimise the number of animals used per experiment or study consistent with the scientific aims. It is essential for reduction that studies with animals are appropriately <a href="https://nc3rs.org.uk/3rs-resources/search/topic/experimental-design-and-reporting" rel="noreferrer">designed and analysed</a> to ensure robust and reproducible findings. </p><p>Reduction also includes methods which allow the information gathered per animal in an experiment to be maximised in order to reduce the use of additional animals. Examples of this include the use of some imaging modalities which allow longitudinal measurements in the same animal to be taken (rather than for example culling cohorts of animals at specific time points), or microsampling of blood, where small volumes enable repeat sampling in the same animal. In these scenarios, it is important to ensure that reducing the number of animals used is balanced against any additional suffering that might be caused by their repeated use.</p><p>Sharing data and resources (e.g. animals, tissues and equipment) between research groups and organisations can also contribute to reduction.</p> </div> <h2 id="refinement">Refinement</h2> <div class="s8080-component text--width-limit"> <p>Refinement refers to methods that minimise the pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm that may be experienced by research animals, and which improve their welfare. Refinement applies to all aspects of animal use, from their housing and husbandry to the scientific procedures performed on them. Examples of refinement include ensuring the animals are provided with housing that allows the expression of species-specific behaviours, using appropriate anaesthesia and analgesia to minimise pain, and training animals to cooperate with procedures to minimise any distress.</p> <p>Evidence suggests that pain and suffering can alter an animal’s behaviour, physiology and immunology. Such changes can lead to variation in experimental results that impairs both the reliability and repeatability of studies.</p> <p>In 2017 we published <a href="/strategy-improving-animal-welfare-and-quality-science">our strategy for improving animal welfare</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-lg-4 offset-lg-1 mt-5 mt-lg-0"> <article class="card card--default s8080-component"> <div class="card__content"> <div class="card__title"> <a href="/3rs-public" class="card__link " title="3Rs for the public"><span>3Rs for the public</span></a> </div> <div class="card__body"> <p>Information about the 3Rs written for a general audience. Perfect for members of the public who are keen to find out more about the 3Rs, and young people doing research for secondary school projects.</p> </div> </div> <div class="card__image"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/image_16_9/public/2022-01/3Rs%20image%20-%20pipetting%20into%2096-well%20plate%2C%20mouse%20handling%2C%20zebrafish%20tanks.jpg?itok=1FIcIG-D" width="1000" height="562" alt="A composite image representing the breadth of the 3Rs: a close-up of pipetting into a 96-well plate, black mice being handled using a plastic tube, and rows of zebrafish tanks" /> </div> </article> <article class="card card--default s8080-component"> <div class="card__content"> <div class="card__title"> <a href="/3rs-resource-library/training-3rs" class="card__link " title="Training on the 3Rs"><span>Training on the 3Rs</span></a> </div> <div class="card__body"> <p>A video resource for introductory training on the 3Rs aimed at in vivo researchers and animal technicians.</p> </div> </div> <div class="card__image"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/image_16_9/public/2022-01/E%20learning%20webinar.png?itok=WNNT5g3U" width="1000" height="562" alt="Cover slide for the 3Rs training webinar. 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