News

SAVE THE DATE!

The FIN3RC Symposium 2025 will take place on October 27-28, 2025 in Turku. More information available here. Join us!

Be the new R Director in FIN3R!

Deadline is extended until September 30th, 2025!

Finnish 3Rs Center (FIN3RC) is looking for new directors for each 3Rs area (Refinement, Reduction and Replacement)!

The three-year term begins in January 2026 and there may be a maximum of two consecutive terms. The is a voluntary position.

More information about the position can be found on this link.

FIN3RC is nominated and supervised by the Council on the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific or Educational Purposes (TOKES). FIN3R actively distributes information about methods, technologies, practices, and strategies to replace, reduce and refine animal studies in research and education, and organizes educational events.

The FIN3R Center Advisory Board elects new directors. The deadline for applications is 30 September 2025. Board members (Chair, Coordinator, 3R Directors, and Advisors) evaluate applications and appoint new directors by the end of the year 2025.

Please send applications to Sara Sladakovic (sara.sladakovic@tuni.fi). For more information, please contact FIN3R Coordinator, Professor Dario Greco (dario.greco@tuni.fi).

FIN3R'S NEW WEBINAR!

Registration is open for the free webinar “Supporting Replacement in Academia” which will be presented by Barney Reed, RSPCA, UK

Date: Tuesday, 14 October 2025, at 14:00 (EEST, in Helsinki)

ABSTRACT

In the UK, and in many other countries, more than half of all animal use for scientific purposes takes place within universities and medical schools, primarily in fundamental and applied research. There are particular barriers to changing current research practices in these settings. These include social and cultural issues relating to ‘the way science is done’, and established systems of funding, publishing and career progression which can incentivise or ‘lock-in’ certain behaviours.

This presentation will discuss an ongoing RSPCA project exploring how these factors may impact upon the ability of scientists across the range of career levels to train in and adopt non-animal methods. Drawing on findings from in-depth semi-structured interviews with researchers using animals across UK universities, this presentation will highlight drivers of animal use and barriers and opportunities around the uptake and acceptance of non-animal methods in academic research. Individuals shared their insights, perspectives and concerns as they spoke candidly about the issues they faced (including knowledge, skills, and expertise; communities and networks; academic environment and pressures; access; and awareness and engagement) and the support they felt they, and those like them, would need.

In examining these factors, the project aims to offer tailored recommendations to funders, regulators, professional and learned societies, journal publishers, Animal Welfare Bodies, individual institutions and others, for further stimulating and supporting the replacement of animal use in academia.

Reference: McGlacken, R. & Reed, B. T. (2024). Supporting Replacement in Academia: Exploring barriers around the acceptance and uptake of non-animal methods in science in UK academia. RSPCA, Horsham, UK. Full report available at: https://tinyurl.com/SupportingReplacement2024

SPEAKER

Barney is Senior Science and Policy Manager in the Animals in Science Department of the RSPCA. He works with individuals and organisations involved in the regulation, use and care of lab animals in the UK, EU and across the world to promote the fullest implementation of the 3Rs, and support the development and uptake of non-animal methodologies, good cultures of care within institutions, and effective systems of ethical review.

He has served on the institutional Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies (the UK equivalent of AWBs/AECs/IACUCs) of eight establishments across academia and industry, and been a member of numerous European Commission Expert Working Groups producing guidance on implementing Directive 2010/63/EU. Between 2016 and 2023, he was appointed to the UK national Animals in Science Committee. In October 2023 he was elected to the Governing Board of the International Council for Laboratory Animal Science (ICLAS).
See more on LinkedIn at: www.linkedin.com/in/barneyreed

Registration for this webinar is required: https://helsinki.zoom.us/meeting/register/bc5P4U8PQ2So4SuHSd-A1Q

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. During the webinar, please keep your cameras off and your microphones muted. After the main talk, we have time for discussion where you can participate with your face and voice! This webinar will be locked when the meeting room limit (300) is reached.

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