How can 3R research be further promoted in Germany? What obstacles exist regarding the widespread use of animal testing alternatives in Germany? And how can we create synergies to overcome these obstacles?
To discuss these and many other questions, the Federal Network 3Rs, a networking initiative of the BMBF, hosted the first edition of the national network meeting 3R. Under the motto „Shaping the dialog together“, representatives from politics, industry and science had the opportunity to exchange ideas and broaden their horizons in exciting masterclasses and workshops.
Federal Network 3Rs Platform
A first highlight was the platform launch of the Federal Network 3Rs. The core of this platform is an interactive map of Germany on which institutions active in the field of 3R can register. This gives users the opportunity to get an overview of these institutions to find potential cooperation partners. Furthermore, many informative articles covering the entire spectrum of 3R research are available on the platform. An interview with Prof. Peter Loskill and Dr. Silke Riegger is also available, in which they provide interesting perspectives on the need for interdisciplinary approaches to replace animal testing with alternative methods. In addition, the platform provides information about upcoming events within the framework of the 3Rs, such as conferences, webinars, network meetings and many more.
Masterclasses and Workshops
Masterclasses and workshops formed the informative framework of the event, which could be selected and attended individually.
One exciting block of topics dealt with the question of how alternative methods can make the leap into application. In various workshops and master classes, experts from the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment provided exciting insights and tips that can guide researchers during the development process so that they can later bring an alternative method into regulatory use.
An often neglected aspect of scientific work is the effective communication of one’s own work to the outside world. A workshop organized by the National Institute for Science Communication provided exciting food for thought in this regard.
The µOrganoLab was also represented by Prof. Peter Loskill with a master class on „Using organ-on-chip technology to recreate complex human tissue“. During the event, Peter Loskill vividly outlined the individual and interdisciplinary development steps that are necessary to create a human-relevant organ-on-chip model and the potential that these models hold.
Networking
True to the theme „Shaping dialog together“, the focus of the event was on talking to other national 3R initiatives and on networking. The 3R-Center Tübingen hosted its own booth, where Adrian Weghofer showcased its work in science communication, research, education, and training. A roundtable at the end of the event provided the framework for a personal exchange with representatives of other 3R-Centers and offered inspiring food for thought as well as the opportunity to get to know the work of colleagues from all over Germany.
With its first network meeting, the Federal Network 3Rs offered two exciting days full of interesting insights into the various facets of 3R research and the regulatory implementation of alternative methods. The personal exchange with colleagues from all over Germany will continue to motivate our 3R-Center and the µOrganoLab in their work towards human-relevant science.
