Record Amount for research into reducing Animal Experiments

The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) has announced 21 new grants totalling £5.1 million for research to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in science - referred to as 'the 3Rs'.

This funding, the largest single allocation ever made for 3Rs research in the UK, will find new ways to advance the 3Rs in a wide range of research programmes in which animals are used; from the causes of cancer and liver fibrosis to understanding the transmission of influenza virus and the effect of drugs on bone formation during osteoporosis.

Many of the projects involve multi-disciplinary teams, with biologists working with computational and mathematical modellers through to animal behaviour experts collaborating with neuroscientists.

Much of the new research focuses on developing and utilising cutting edge techniques, such as a novel nebuliser and cell culture system that will replace ferrets used for influenza research, and adapting MR Elastography, a non-invasive imaging technology which measures the elasticity of tissues, to take heart function measurements in rodents.

Innovative approaches will also be used to assess the welfare of non-human primates used in neuroscience research, including measuring the changes in the length of the ends of chromosomes in white blood cells as a novel marker of chronic stress.

NC3Rs Chief Executive, Dr Vicky Robinson said "The awards will ensure the UK continues to lead the world in developing new ways to minimise the use of animals in research and testing and improve animal welfare. We are extremely grateful to the BBSRC and MRC for making available another £1.9 million so that the NC3Rs could fund an additional six key projects. I am impressed by the diverse projects that we have selected for funding, which demonstrate the commitment to the 3Rs by some of the UK's leading scientific teams."