Rethinking animal use in research and education
Venue
Freie Universität BerlinEvent Date
10 Dec 2026 05:25PM
Event Type
Rethinking animal use in research and education
Can science keep advancing while sparing animals unnecessary harm? That question is at the heart of the 3Rs (Replace, Reduce and Refine) and of Freie Universität Berlin's 3R Online Seminar, "Alternatives to animal use in research and education – Refine, Reduce & Replace".
Every Thursday until 10 December 2026, the series brings together leading scientists, ethicists and regulators. They show how new tools, from human organs-on-chips to artificial intelligence, are changing the way research is done, and how animal welfare can be built into every stage of it.
What's coming up:
▪️ 29 Oct – Replacement: replacing rodents with human vasculature-on-chip, and engineering human heart tissue for diagnosis, drug testing and therapy
▪️ 5 Nov – Refinement: what sensors and modern technologies can (and cannot) tell us about animal welfare, and refining common metabolic tolerance tests
▪️ 12 Nov – Replacement: lung organoids for respiratory infection research, and where New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) are heading
▪️ 19 Nov – 3R Regulatory: alternative methods in toxicological research, and putting the 3Rs into regulation
▪️ 26 Nov – Culture of Care: psychological stress among laboratory professionals, and whether AI is truly an "ethical" alternative to animal testing
▪️ 3 Dec – Replacement: modelling the brain affected by glioblastoma without the mouse, and in silico trials for computational physiological models
▪️ 10 Dec – Replacement/Refinement: systematic reviews as a bridge to regulatory approval, and the 3Hs: Handling, Housing and Habituation
Why it matters for Africa
For veterinary, animal health and research communities across Africa, the 3Rs offer practical pathways to more ethical, efficient and credible science. Africa is strengthening its laboratory, diagnostic and vaccine capacity. Building in the 3Rs from the start can cut costs, make results more reliable and earn public trust, in line with the welfare principles of the Animal Welfare Strategy for Africa.
🕒 Thursdays, 15:00–16:30 CET (17:00–18:30 EAT)
💻 Online via Webex | In English | Free of charge
📜 Participation certificates available for attendees
Join in and share this with colleagues and students. Let's keep the conversation on humane, high-quality science going.