3Rs Centre Utrecht (3RCU)

The mission of the 3Rs Centre Utrecht (3RCU), previously known as the 3Rs-Centre Utrecht Life Sciences (ULS), is to stimulate the development, acceptance and implementation of methods which can Replace, Reduce and Refine animal experiments – in that order.

To implement the Transition towards animal-free innovations at the Utrecht Science Park (USP), three local organizations act in synergy. The 3Rs Centre Utrecht (3RCU) is an organisational part of the Utrecht Animal Welfare Body and works closely together with TPI Utrecht, which guarantees a good embedding in both research and education. The aim of the 3RCU is to maximally reduce the use of experimental animals for education and research, and to maximise animal welfare where animals are still being used.

To do so, the Centre follows the three Rs of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement, with a primary focus on Replacement. It provides centralised information about the 3Rs and 3R tools via its website, LinkedIn account and 3RTools program (containing the Interspecies Database, the FCS-free database, and the humane endpoints website). In addition, the Centre works closely with researchers to stimulate the development, implementation and adoption of the 3Rs.

The Centre's philosophy can be summarised as 'supporting ideas through data', and it facilitates targeted action as much as possible. Researchers are given the best possible support via the integral organisation of working groups, in the centre of which are manpower, expertise, reagents and lab space.

A seminar was held on 11 May 2023 to mark the inauguration of the Centre's new Director, Jeffrey Bajramovic, and its new name: 3Rs Centre Utrecht (3RCU):

3Rs Centre Utrecht: Rebooting Relevant Research

Norecopa's global map of 3R Centres.