Vicky Robinson
MRC 

https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.49.21

The MRC is committed to the principles of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) and to ensuring high standards of care for the animals that are used in the research it funds – currently approximately 20% of the research programmes funded by the MRC involve the use of animals. Recently, the MRC decided to take a more proactive role by inviting funding proposals for new work relevant to the 3Rs, and by establishing the Centre for Best Practice for Animals in Research (CBPAR).

MRC 3Rs funding scheme

MRC research programmes in areas such as antibody technology, imaging and the development of in vitro models already contribute to the development of non-animal methods or reduced animal use. In addition to this, the MRC is now inviting grant applications for research and/or the development of methods which are solely concerned with the 3Rs and laboratory animal welfare. The MRC has already awarded two strategic grants under the scheme. Dr Lars Sundstrom from the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Southampton has been awarded £200,000 (jointly funded with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratories) to develop and characterise a clinically relevant in vitro model of traumatic brain injury which mimics shear injury. Professor Paul Flecknell from the Comparative Biology Centre at University of Newcastle has been awarded £177,000 to identify and evaluate indicators of pain in rats of different strains and ages and following different procedures.

The MRC is keen to hear from any scientists who would like to discuss an outline proposal for research that is likely to make a significant contribution to the 3Rs. It would particularly welcome applications from multidisciplinary teams or proposals which would complement its increased investment in mouse genetics and physiology. All applications are peer reviewed. Anyone interested in discussing a research proposal should contact Dr Angela Williams (angela.williams@ headoffice.mrc.ac.uk) or Dr Declan Mulkeen (declan.mulkeen@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk).

MRC Centre for Best Practice for Animals in Research

Working closely with scientists, vets, animal technicians, regulatory authorities and professional bodies, the CBPAR will be supporting the scientific community’s commitment to the 3Rs by developing, promoting and implementing best practice guidance and expert advice on the 3Rs and laboratory animal welfare. The Centre will also be taking the lead on the ethical use of animals within MRC.

The CBPAR will be working proactively developing consensus best practice guidelines on husbandry and procedures, and reactively to address issues of concern. Currently the CBPAR is focussing on a range of issues including the care of primates used in scientific procedures, and with the other major funding bodies is developing welfare assessment schemes for genetically modified animals.

A key component of the CBPAR’s work will be the dissemination of information on the 3Rs. There is already a considerable amount of research carried out in the UK and worldwide on initiatives which will replace, reduce and refine animal use. The Centre will be disseminating the output of such work through a number of fora including its webpages, discussion groups and workshops. The CBPAR’s webpages are currently under construction and should be complete by mid-Autumn (http://www.mrc.ac.uk/index/public_ interest/public-ethics_and_best_practice/public­cbpar.htm).

Dr Vicky Robinson has recently been appointed to head the CBPAR. Vicky was formerly a scientist in the Division of Developmental Neurobiology at the MRC’s National Institute for Medical Research, where she worked on the role of a family of receptor tyrosine kinases and their ligands in the patterning of the hindbrain and cranial neural crest. More recently, she worked in the RSPCA’s Research Animals Department promoting the 3Rs in biotechnologies.

The CBPAR is in a nascent period and its detailed work plan will be presented to its Board of Management in October. Anyone who has any queries or suggestions for areas the CBPAR should be addressing should contact Vicky Robinson (vicky.robinson@ headoffice.mrc.ac.uk).