OU Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation addresses the 3Rs for animal research

The OU’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, Professor Kevin Shakesheff, is playing a national role in accelerating the replacement of animals in research with the launch of the 2022-2024 Strategy for the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs).

Professor Shakesheff is Board Chair of the NC3Rs which is a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funded body that promotes better science through research into the 3Rs.

In his introduction to the new Strategy he says:

“This is an exciting and important time for the science and adoption of approaches to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research and testing (the 3Rs). Global collaboration and recent technological developments have created scientific breakthroughs that will replace the use of animals with in vitro and in silico technologies and transform the use of animals in academia and industry.

“The UK is playing an important role in advancing molecular and cell biology, computational science, mathematics, and other intersecting fields with the aim of creating new methodologies and non-animal technologies. Crucially, this effort is also generating the evidence required to change long-established practices.”

He goes on to point out the significant barriers that impede the uptake of the 3Rs and reinforces NC3Rs’ commitment embedded in its 18-year history to convene and support UK global collaboration.