The concepts of refinement, reduction, and replacement provide an important framework for the humane conduct of animal research. Discover resources available to support implementation of the 3Rs.
Literature Search Support
The literature search for alternatives is required by the Animal Welfare Act and by the UW’s IACUC, and serves two purposes: (1) Confirms that the proposed project is not unnecessarily duplicative, and (2) Identifies non-animal models and/or refinements to animal procedures that minimizes pain and distress.
This practice is most valuable when conducted early in the protocol lifecycle so that appropriate alternatives and refinements can be incorporated into your experimental plans. Conducting an effective literature search can be challenging. Below are several resources to help you.
UW’s Health Sciences Library Guide.
National Agricultural Library.
Animal Welfare Information Center’s “How to Find Animal Use Alternatives” Guide: https://www.nal.usda.gov/services/literature-searching-animal-use-alternatives
Additional Resources to Identify Alternatives and Refinements
Animal Welfare Refinement Database
The Animal Welfare Institute maintains this database of refinements for animal housing, husbandry, care and use of animals in research. It is updated quarterly with the recently published literature.
Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing
This center based at Johns Hopkins University is focused on promoting and supporting in vitro and other alternative research techniques, such as organoids and 3D brain models.
Lab Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum
The Animal Welfare Institute maintains this online discussion forum to support the exchange of ideas about ways to improve the conditions under which animals in laboratories are housed and handled. It also includes links to relevant books and articles from journals and newsletters.
The 3Rs Collaborative
This organization is committed to the conduct of sound science through implementation of the 3Rs. They provide a wide range of resources on refinements, reduction, and replacement.