3R Knowledge Center launch

The 3R Knowledge Center will be launched on the 26^th and 27^th of April 2023, with a conference which is also the first edition of the 3R day to be held annually.

The conference includes sessions on advanced in-vitro model techniques such as organoids, microfluidics, and organ-on-a-chip, high throughput screening, refinement of animal-based research, scientific validity and good experimental practice, and strategies for promoting the 3Rs.

The focus of this event is on 3Rs research in Portugal, and the speaker list and topics reflect several recent and impactful achievements. From Nova Medical School in Lisbon, António Jacinto is addressing the importance of human cell-based research models and presents the NOVA Institute for Medical Systems Biology, a new center of excellence that aims to apply emerging biomedical and digital technologies and innovative solutions in health. Two young researchers from i3S, Estrela Neto and Daniel Ferreira, present their work recently awarded international 3Rs prizes. Daniel Ferreira has developed a benchtop method for fabricating organ-on-a-chip devices which makes such model systems less costly and more accessible. This work was given the International 3Rs Award by the National Centre for the 3Rs in the UK in 2022. Estrela Neto is working on an organ-on-a-chip model to study pain from bone metastases, for which she received an ART Award for 3Rs research from Animal Research Tomorrow in 2022.  

Whereas the work by Drs Jacinto, Ferreira, and Neto is all focused on non-animal methods (Replacement), recognition has also been given to the development of Refinement methods for experiments using animals. In 2021, Inês Mendes Preguiça, University of Coimbra was recognized with the Refinement prize from the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA) for her work on less invasive drug dosing methods for rodents.

More information is available here: https://www.i3s.up.pt/event.php?v=264