Boost for infrastructure in animal use reduction

UK animal research laboratories will get £1 million to develop networks of shared resources to reduce and refine their animal use, the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) announced today (26th February, 2013).

A new initiative of the NC3Rs, the ‘Infrastructure for Impact’ scheme supports the development of shared tissue banks, databases and equipment across multiple sites and institutes using animals – resources that would otherwise be managed and utilised independently.

Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), the ‘Infrastructure for Impact’ scheme supports the development of shared tissue banks, databases and equipment across multiple sites and institutes using animals – resources that would otherwise be managed and utilised independently.

Now open for applications, the scheme aims to reduce and refine animal use in science in the short- to medium-term by funding improvements to the infrastructure that underpins UK biosciences research.

The funding has been provided by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills as part of the £600 million extra science funding allocation from the 2012 Autumn Budget Statement.

Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts, said:

“This investment will further support the excellent work of the NC3Rs. It helps deliver the Government’s commitment to using scientific advances to replace, reduce and refine animal use wherever possible.”

Dr Vicky Robinson, Chief Executive, NC3Rs, said:

“Our new scheme will provide the funds necessary for the collaborative development of networks to share resources between laboratories and institutions. For example, we will be supporting the sharing of data from animal experiments to avoid studies being repeated, the sharing of cells and tissues to maximise the use of animals that are killed for this purpose, and where appropriate the sharing of animals, particularly genetically altered mice to avoid the potential for overbreeding."