Also with video here. (www.WORC.Community)

This very special 3RS podcast is sponsored by:

Crown Bioscience

Crown Bioscience is a Contract Research Organization (CRO) specializing in oncology and immuno-oncology drug discovery and development. 'Our preclinical and translational services offer biotech and pharmaceutical companies the opportunity to remove the guesswork from their research and development'.

This fascinating episode dives deep into the world of the Three Rs—replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal models in research—featuring three leading experts from European 3R centers.

Dr. Armand Mensen from the Swiss 3R Competence Centre explains how thoughtful experimental design forms the foundation of ethical research, allowing scientists to maintain scientific rigor while minimizing animal use. He shares a powerful perspective that good animal welfare and excellent science go hand in hand—they're complementary, not competing priorities. Professor Adrian Smith from Norway's Norecopa reveals the complex political landscape surrounding animal research and why it's crucial for scientists to step outside their comfort zones to share knowledge across disciplines. Meanwhile, Dr. Cathy Vickers from the UK's National Centre for the Three Rs showcases groundbreaking industry collaborations, including a "virtual dog" being developed to potentially eliminate certain toxicity tests and advanced organ-on-chip systems that could transform drug development.The conversation tackles major challenges facing the Three Rs movement—from implementation hurdles to misaligned academic incentives—while highlighting exciting opportunities as regulatory agencies increasingly embrace non-animal methods. We explore how technologies like organoids, microfluidic systems, and AI are creating unprecedented possibilities to study human biology directly rather than through animal proxies.

Whether you're a researcher looking to implement more ethical approaches, a policy maker interested in scientific innovation, or simply curious about how science is evolving to become more humane and human-relevant, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of biomedical research. Subscribe now and join us in exploring how the Three Rs are transforming science as we know it.

Our 3Rs special guests are:

Dr Armand Mensen.

Armand is the Scientific Officer and Deputy Director of the Swiss 3R Competence Center (3RCC).

Professor Adrian Smith

He has been the Secretary of Norecopa (Norway's consensus-platform for the 3Rs - Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of animal research)

Dr Cathy Vickers

Cathy is head of innovation at the UK National Centre for the 3Rs. She leads the CRACK IT Open innovation programme.

This very special 3RS podcast is sponsored by:

Crown Bioscience

Crown Bioscience is a Contract Research Organization (CRO) specializing in oncology and immuno-oncology drug discovery and development. 'Our preclinical and translational services offer biotech and pharmaceutical companies the opportunity to remove the guesswork from their research and development'.

Visit the HOME of the Podcast here: WORC.Community