Replacement

  • Disease models and microphysiological systems
  • Emerging technologies: stem cells incl. hiPSCs, bioprinting, spheroids, organoids, multi-organ models, “-omics” analysis, systems biology approaches, IT and big data
  • Biological barriers: e.g. lung, gut, kidney & skin epithelia, blood-brain & blood-saliva barriers
  • Animal-free human based cell culture – replacement of serum, matrigel, gelatin, collagens, trypsin, S9, etc. – and recombinant antibodies
  • Good cell culture practice
  • Development and implementation of Novel Approach Methodologies (NAMs)
  • In silico models: toxicology & efficacy of drugs, chemicals & cosmetics, new approaches for biomedical research
  • In vitro toxicology: Specific endpoints of toxicity, alternatives to animal testing in food safety and nutrition, Neurotoxicity & Developmental Neurotoxicity (DNT) and Ecotoxicology
  • Efficacy and safety testing of drugs, medical devices, biopharmaceutics, cosmetics, consumer products (e. g. toys) and chemicals (REACH & alternatives)

Reduction

  • Preregistration, reporting, and experimental design
  • Organ and tissue sharing and approaches to reduce surplus animals
  • Translational aspects (species differences) and reproducibility

Refinement

  • Best practice approaches and culture of care
  • Avoidance of severe suffering and pain management/assessment
  • Cage enrichment and non-invasive handling
  • AI – Artificial Intelligence to advance the Three Rs and human centered research and testing: research/screening tools, creation and use of virtual animal and human populations for pre- and clinical studies, translation tool from animals to humans
  • NGRA – Next generation risk assessment
  • Animal research ethics: 3R, Harm-Benefit Analysis, ethical review
  • 3Rs in education and academia
  • 3Rs centres and platforms in Europe & international, national and local centres
  • 3Rs and policy: Implementing 3Rs guidelines and concepts, Novel Approach Methodologies (NAMs) and Directives – Ethical and legal issues – Cosmetics testing ban (and REACH)
  • 3Rs research funding
  • COST Action IMPROVE: 3Rs concepts to improve the quality of biomedical science
  • “Young Scientists” session
  • Publication policies – ARRIVE guidelines & Co