Replacement, Reduction and Refinement

We are committed to supporting the 3Rs of animal-based research and testing - Replacement, Reduction and Refinement.

Before any animal-based research or teaching project can occur, our Animal Care and Ethics Committee must be satisfied that the proposed work is ethically acceptable and that the 3Rs have been considered and applied wherever possible.

Replacement

Is there an alternative experiment that doesn't require the use of animals?

Examples: using 3D computer modelling, organoids and cell cultures.

Reduction

Can we adjust the experiment design to involve fewer animals?

Examples: sharing data or tissue samples with other teams, using cell cultures, using statistical analysis.

Refinement

Can we minimise the effect of the research on the animals and improve animal welfare?

Examples: Optimising methods and monitoring, using anaesthesia, using iDNA.

How we support the 3Rs

  • University researchers are part of national network that aims to develop strategies to reduce the use of animals in medical research. The Non-Animal Technologies Network is part of a $4.5 million package announced by the NSW Government in July 2024 that aims to support groundbreaking discoveries in the field of health and medicine while developing alternative methods that support the 3Rs of animal-based research: Replace, Reduce, Refine.
  • Each year, our Animal Care and Ethics Committee recognises an individual or team that has significantly enhanced the welfare of animals involved in research and teaching.  The annual ACEC Animal Welfare Award is open to researchers, research teams and research support staff.
  • Since 2024, the University has provided a dedicated internal funding scheme to help researchers develop or advance projects that address one or more of the 3Rs. Supported projects have involved the development of synthetic tissues, finding new ways to reduce animal use in leukaemia studies and more.
  • The University worked with the Liberty Foundation to rehome its former guinea pig colony as pets in 2023. The guinea pig rehoming effort had one of the highest success rates of any research animal rehoming program in NSW, with 135 animals adopted as pets across three states. Previously, the University bred guinea pigs to support research into preterm birth and vision conditions such as myopia – commonly referred to as short-sightedness. The University has ceased breeding guinea pigs to help reduce animal use in research.