Animal welfare & alternatives

Declining Hen Harrier populations in the UK

The hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) was once widespread across Britain, but it has endured decades of persecution, which first forced this bird of prey out of mainland Britain by 1900.

Largest lake in Britain and Ireland has lost three quarters of winter water birds

The largest lake in Britain and Ireland, Lough Neagh, has lost more than three quarters of its overwintering water birds according to researchers at Queen’s University Belfast.

New botox could reduce animal toxicology testing

Scientists have developed a new form of botox that lasts for months without the toxic side-effects of the current treatment used in the medical and cosmetic industries.

‘Turning point’ in Alzheimer’s treatment

A new compound that reduces brain cell death in mice could mark a new target for treatments against Alzheimer’s disease.

New EU guide to alternatives to animal testing

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has published a second edition of its European Reference Laboratory for Alternatives (EURL Ecvam) to Animal Testing search guide.

Fire salamanders wiped out by newly found fungus

Fire salamanders are now all but extinct in Holland.

Animal research awards

The Basel Declaration has announced the winner of its Award for Education in Animal Research

The joint NC3Rs and Society of Biology symposium held in London on Wednesday brought together researchers from disparate fields to share their work in replacing, refining and reducing the use of animals in research.

Prize for technique that reduces number of animals in spinal injury research

A scientist from the University of Glasgow has been awarded a 3Rs Prize for developing a cell-based technique that models severed nerves usually studied in animals.

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.

Shell-shocked

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

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.

“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’.

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.