Animal welfare & alternatives

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  New foot-and-mouth vaccine

  Foot-and-mouth disease (Aphthae epizooticae) is an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild bovids such as cattle and sheep.

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  Shell-shocked

  Crustaceans such as crabs, prawns and lobsters are not covered by animal welfare legislation because they were thought not to feel pain.

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  Mice, MRI's and microchips

  As Christmas and the New Year loom, politicians across Europe are in the final stages of affirming new laws to embed the concept of replacing, refining and reducing the use of animals in scientific research.

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  “Lung on a chip” could reduce the use of animals

  Scientists have invented a device that mimics the air pockets of the human lung, allowing them to study lung disease and test new therapies without using animals.

• Record amount awarded for research to reduce animal experiments

  The NC3Rs has today 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’.

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  Predictive power of the parallel approach

  An innovative approach to clinical trials could improve the predictive power of both human trials and animal studies, bringing both patient and animal welfare benefits.

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• Stem cells win prizes

  Liver cells that mimic inherited liver diseases, produced from human skin cells, may offer the chance to regenerate damaged tissues and organs.

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  Nearly £1 million towards replacing cancer tests

  Scientists have been awarded nearly £1 million to develop new test methods that should substantially reduce the numbers of animals used for testing chemicals which may cause cancer.

• Gene confers resistance to Marek’s disease

  Scientists have identified a gene that appears to make chickens immune to the deadly Marek's virus - responsible for millions of deaths in chickens each year.

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  #WW award for NC3Rs review

  Our Wedneday Winner today is the NC3Rs for producing a really clear, accessible and comprehensive review of the work it funds.

• Replacing animals with nerves on a chip

  A team of scientists have developed a way of guiding nerve cells to set up complicated networks that mimic the ones found in the brain.

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  'Glow in the dark' cats aids HIV research

  Scientists inserted two genes into cats: the first is taken from macaque monkeys and helps the cat resist the feline form of Aids; the second is a fluorescent gene from jellyfish that helps the researchers literally see where the added anti-aids gene is active.

• Safer treatment for sleeping sickness

  Scientists have trialled a safer way of treating sleeping sickness in mice by modifying an existing medicine.

• Computer model predicts effect of medicines on heart

  Scientists have developed a computer model that predicts the effect of anti-arrhythmic medicines on the heart.

• Allergy testing with human cells

  Allergic reactions to everyday chemicals are common causing eczema in millions of people, and tests on animals have been important in testing new chemicals for skin sensitisation.