Despite the development of powerful molecular biological techniques and technologies, studies involving research animals remain a key component of discovery biology, and in the discovery and development of new medicines. In 1959, The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique, the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) were developed to provide a framework to ensure animal research was undertaken as humanely as possible. Sixty years since their inception, the extent to which the 3Rs have been adopted and implemented by the global scientific and medical research communities has unfortunately been slow and patchy. However, this situation is changing rapidly as awareness increases, not only of the 3Rs themselves, but of the impact of animal welfare on the reproducibility, reliability and translatability of data from animal studies.
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November 2019
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Cover Image
Cover Image
This issue's cover features a collection of images to showcase the breadth of topics which raise bioethical questions, many of which are covered in this issue. Image credits (clockwise from top left): andriano. cz/Shutterstock.com; David Parry/PA Wire https://culturedbeef.org/; Peterson and Owen (pages 707–711); Gleadow et al. (pages 723–729).
Perspective|
October 22 2019
Animal experimentation: implementation and application of the 3Rs
David I. Lewis
School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, U.K.
Correspondence: David I Lewis (d.i.lewis@leeds.ac.uk)
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Emerg Top Life Sci (2019) 3 (6): 675–679.
Article history
Received:
August 22 2019
Revision Received:
October 02 2019
Accepted:
October 07 2019
Citation
David I. Lewis; Animal experimentation: implementation and application of the 3Rs. Emerg Top Life Sci 27 November 2019; 3 (6): 675–679. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/ETLS20190061
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