International 3Rs prize competition now open for entries

Applications are now open for the International 3Rs Prize, an annual award which recognises research with the potential to replace, refine or reduce the use of animals in scientific studies. The prize is jointly funded by the UK’s National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) and pharmaceutical giant GSK. The aim of the competition is to highlight outstanding contributions in the advancement of humane research techniques across medical, biological and veterinary sciences.

Researchers who have published a peer-reviewed paper within the past three years that demonstrates significant 3Rs impact are encouraged to apply. The winner’s prize is a £28,000 grant, which can be used to further develop and disseminate research alongside a £2,000 personal award. GSK contributes £20,000 toward the prize fund, while NC3Rs funds the remainder. There is a further ‘highly commended’ category that attracts a separate award of £4,000 in research funding and £1,000 in personal recognition.

Who can apply?

The 3Rs competition is open to researchers around the world, regardless of career stage, institutional affiliation or funding source. Any author of an eligible research paper can apply – and in cases of joint authorship – the award may be shared among its contributors.

Past winners of the prize have come from a diverse range of research backgrounds. Winner in 2022, Dr. Lisa Wagar of the University of California, Irvine, won the 3Rs prize for her innovative organoid model of the adaptive immune response, which eliminated the need for animal testing. She encouraged researchers to apply, saying: “If you think you might be a good applicant, you should absolutely take the opportunity.”

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Similarly, Dr. Marta Shahbazi of the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, who was a joint winner of the 2019 prize for her work on human embryonic stem cell 3D cultures, emphasised the award's impact, calling it “a testament to my commitment to the 3Rs.”

Eligible research papers

To qualify for the current competition, the research must have been published in a peer-reviewed journal between September 1, 2021, and September 1, 2024. Studies must contain experimental or laboratory-based research with a demonstrable 3Rs impact, either as a primary goal or a significant secondary outcome. However, review articles, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses, are not eligible.

Application process

To apply, researchers must complete an application form and submit it along with their research paper to 3rsprize@nc3rs.org.uk. The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2025. Guidance is available to help applicants effectively showcase their research and its 3Rs impact.

The panel

The prize selection panel consists of leading experts from both academia and industry, and assesses applications based on the actual or potential impact on the 3Rs, the significance of the research question, robustness of study design, dissemination efforts, and the strength of plans for utilising the prize research grant.

This year’s panel includes:

• Professor Julia Buckingham (Chair), Institute of Cancer Research
• Dr Michelle Embry, Health and Environmental Sciences Institute
• Dr Lorna Ewart, Emulate
• Professor Alex Frangi, University of Leeds
• Professor Axel Kornerup Hansen, University of Copenhagen
• Professor Lars Lewejohann, Freie Universität Berlin
• Dr Dominick McIntyre, CRUK Cambridge Centre
• Professor Dan Weary, University of British Columbia
• Professor Sue Gibbs, University of Amsterdam.

Panellists are required to disclose any conflicts of interest, to ensure a fair and unbiased selection process in line with the policies of the NC3Rs parent-body – the UK Research and Innovation, which is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the central government Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Impact and benefits

Winning the International 3Rs Prize brings not only financial support but also international recognition for research that advances ethical scientific practices. Previous winners have used the prize funds to enhance in silico modelling software, optimise 3Rs methods for vaccine testing, purchase new laboratory equipment, and support career development in the 3Rs field.

Professor Rickie Patani, a 2018 prize winner from University College London and the Francis Crick Institute, used patient-derived stem cells to study motor neuron disease, reducing reliance on animal models. Encouraging others to apply, he stated: “Go for it! If you are passionately committed to having a real impact on the 3Rs and have some evidence for this, consider applying.”

For further information please visit: https://nc3rs.org.uk/international-3rs-prize