Innovation, Ethics, and the 3Rs in a Changing World
Innovate. Integrate. Elevate
About the Theme
In a time of rapid scientific progress and global change, laboratory animal science faces a crucial turning point. The theme “Innovation, Ethics, and the 3Rs in a Changing World” highlights our commitment to advancing research while ensuring responsibility, transparency, and respect for animal welfare.
Emerging technologies, evolving regulations, and shifting societal expectations call for renewed collaboration. Innovation supports new methods that refine animal care, reduce animal use, and replace animals whenever possible, while ethical reflection ensures meaningful and responsible scientific outcomes.
This congress brings together the entire laboratory animal community—researchers, veterinarians, technicians, education professionals, policymakers, and opinion leaders—to spark innovative ideas and rethink the future of the field. Through lectures and workshops, we will explore current challenges and propose forward-looking strategies for designing more responsible, humane, and sustainable animal studies.
A. Driving Innovation in Laboratory Animal Science
Laboratory animal science is undergoing rapid scientific and technological change while remaining grounded in established practices and regulatory standards. This stream will address how institutions and professionals navigate the transition from tradition to innovation, with a focus on emerging technologies such as AI-driven tools, home-cage monitoring systems, and data-integrated approaches that are transforming experimental design and animal care.
We will examine how research teams adapt their methods, enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, and integrate digital solutions to support refinement, reduction, and improved welfare monitoring. By highlighting best practices and current challenges, this session will offer insights into implementing new technologies while upholding scientific rigor and ethical responsibility.
Keywords: Experimental techniques, Refinement, Anesthesia, Analgesia, Animal science innovation, Husbandry, Animal Welfare, Transgenic techniques, Digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence
B. Combining Approaches to Enhance Research
This stream will address the complementary roles of animal models and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) within rigorous scientific strategies. Contributions may spotlight cutting‑edge advances in the validation, applicability, and integration of NAMs, demonstrating how these methods can be combined with in vivo approaches to drive greater translational impact and elevate scientific rigor. The stream will deliver a balanced, evidence-based perspective aligned with the 3Rs and current European research priorities.
Keywords: NAMs, Alternative methods (ex-vivo, in vitro, in silico, in chemico), Replacement, Validation, Translational research, Model relevance, Predictive value, Integrated methodologies, Research strategies, Phasing-out
C. Championing Excellence in Research
This stream will address the interconnections between innovative technologies, scientific quality, research integrity and excellence. It will consider good research practices and experimental design, standardization, quality management systems, and transparency, with the aim of ensuring that scientific and technological developments are implemented in a robust, ethical, and responsible manner across research and animal care settings.
Keywords: Scientific integrity, Research quality, Reduction, Reproducibility, Data reliability, Good research practices, Quality management, Transparency, Systematic review, Design optimization
D. Caring Better: Empowering Skills & Culture
A strong Culture of Care relies on well-trained and supported professionals across all roles, including technicians, veterinarians, engineers, and researchers. This stream will focus on education, continuing education and training, competency frameworks, and skills assessment in laboratory animal science. Topics may include training about implementing the 3Rs, ethical awareness, communication, and preventing compassion fatigue. The stream will highlight how training and further professional development contribute to animal welfare, scientific quality, and responsible research practices.
Keywords: Culture of Care, Training, Continuing education, Competency assessment, Skills development, Professional pathways, Compassion fatigue, Professional wellbeing, Human-animal interaction
E. Building Sustainable and Resilient Research
In the context of environmental challenges, global crises, and shifting societal expectations, research infrastructures must show resilience, sustainability, and transparency. This stream will address crisis preparedness in animal facilities, biosecurity, continuity planning, environmental impact, and sustainable resource use. It will also consider governance, regulatory frameworks, public trust, and the long-term responsibilities of the laboratory animal science community in Europe.
Keywords: Sustainability, Resilience, Crisis preparedness, Business continuity plan, Risk management, Biosecurity, Governance, Public trust, Environmental impact, Facility management, Responsible science, Long-term vision
