Question 1

Refining Research to Improve the Lives of Laboratory Mice

Accepted Answer

As part of a series called Frontiers for Young Minds, Paulin Jirkof has written an educational resource for kids about refined mouse handling called Refining Research to Improve the Lives of Laboratory Mice

Question 2

Focus and facts on the 3Rs

Accepted Answer

The Swedish 3Rs have a page with lots of multimedia resources on the 3Rs, including articles, films, and interviews.

They produce short pedagogic films about how advanced cell models and computer models can be used to replace and reduce animal experimentation.

jordbruksverket.se/languages/english/the-swedish-3rs-center/focus-and-facts

Question 3

The NC3Rs Macaque Website

Accepted Answer

Information and practical guidance on the natural history and behaviour of macaques, their care and management in captivity, and ways to assess their welfare. A free resource for everyone who works with, or is interested in, laboratory macaques.

https://macaques.nc3rs.org.uk

Question 4

Rat Tickling Certification Course

Accepted Answer

Tickling is increasingly recognised as an effective means of improving laboratory rat welfare through mimicking natural play habits. Here we bring together resources on rat tickling and how it can be used to promote positive human-animal interactions.

This online course from Purdue University, which was funded by the Animal Welfare Institute, was created by Dr Megan LaFollette (North American 3Rs Collaborative) and colleagues with the aim of allowing you to become certified in the correct rat tickling technique.

This course is best for individuals who want to apply rat tickling in their facilities and receive a certificate for their efforts.

For those who do not wish do get a certificate there is the option of undertaking the rat tickling open course, which will allow you to learn a few things about rat tickling. You can access the rat tickling open course using the same link as the certification course - just click on the 'open course' option when prompted.

Access via the NC3Rs website at nc3rs.org.uk/3rs-resources/rat-tickling/rat-tickling-certification

Question 5

3Rs Principles in Wildlife Research

Accepted Answer

3rswildlife.info

This site has been created to provide information about the 3Rs principles of animal use and guide their application in wildlife research. It contains examples of peer-reviewed studies that implemented non-lethal or non-invasive methods and that could be used as guidance. It is the first online resource of its kind developed specifically for wildlife biologists, ecologists, and conservation managers.

Question 6

The Interspecies Database

Accepted Answer

https://www.interspeciesinfo.com/

The Interspecies Database helps researchers to make an optimal choice of species and strain of the animal model, which is essential for efficient extrapolation of animal data to humans or other animals.

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The Interspecies Database is part of the 3Rs Database Programme, together with www.humane-endpoints.info and fcs-free.org. These websites will help you with the refinement and replacement of animal experiments, respectively.

Question 7

ManyPrimates - Establishing A Culture Of Collaboration In Primate Cognition Research

Accepted Answer

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The ManyPrimates project was initiated to facilitate collaboration across study sites in primate cognition research. By joining forces, they hope to address important outstanding questions that individual labs could not answer by themselves (please note their Ethics Guidelines list that procedures and contributions in ManyPrimates studies can not use invasive methods).

https://manyprimates.github.io/

Question 8

INFRAFRONTIER - Mouse Disease Models

Accepted Answer

https://infrafrontier.eu/

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INFRAFRONTIER is the European Research Infrastructure for the generation, phenotyping, archiving and distribution of model mammalian genomes. The INFRAFRONTIER Research Infrastructure provides access to first-class tools and data for biomedical research, and thereby contributes to improving the understanding of gene function in human health and disease using the mouse model.

The core services of INFRAFRONTIER comprise the systemic phenotyping of mouse mutants in the participating mouse clinics, and the archiving and distribution of mouse mutant lines by the European Mouse Mutant Archive (EMMA). In addition, INFRAFRONTIER provides specialised services such as the generation of germ-free mice (axenic service) and training in state of the art cryopreservation and phenotyping technologies.

Question 9

International Mouse Strain Resource (IMSR)

Accepted Answer

http://www.findmice.org/

The IMSR is a searchable online database of mouse strains, stocks, and mutant ES cell lines available worldwide, including inbred, mutant, and genetically engineered strains. The goal of the IMSR is to assist the international scientific community in locating and obtaining mouse resources for research. Note that the data content found in the IMSR is as supplied by strain repository holders.

For each strain or cell line listed in the IMSR, users can obtain information about:

Where that resource is available (Repository Site)
What state(s) the resource is available as (e.g. live, cryopreserved embryo or germplasm, ES cells)
Links to descriptive information about a strain or ES cell line
Links to mutant alleles carried by a strain or ES cell line
Links for ordering a strain or ES cell line from a Repository
Links for contacting the Repository to send a query

Question 10

Identifying obstacles preventing the uptake of tunnel handling methods for laboratory mice: An international thematic survey

Accepted Answer

Identifying obstacles preventing the uptake of tunnel handling methods for laboratory mice: An international thematic survey

Lindsay J. Henderson, Tom V. Smulders, Johnny V. Roughan
Published: April 14, 2020
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231454

Abstract

Handling of laboratory mice is essential for experiments and husbandry, but handling can increase anxiety in mice, compromising their welfare and potentially reducing replicability between studies. The use of non-aversive handling (e.g., tunnel handling or cupping), rather than the standard method of picking mice up by the tail, has been shown to enhance interaction with a handler, reduce anxiety-like behaviours, and increase exploration and performance in standard behavioural tests. Despite this, some labs continue to use tail handling for routine husbandry, and the extent to which non-aversive methods are being used is currently unknown. Here we conducted an international online survey targeting individuals that work with and/or conduct research using laboratory mice. The survey aimed to identify the handling methods currently being used, and to determine common obstacles that may be preventing the wider uptake of non-aversive handling. We also surveyed opinions concerning the current data in support of non-aversive handling for mouse welfare and scientific outcomes. 390 complete responses were received and analysed quantitatively and thematically. We found that 35% report using tail handling only, and 43% use a combination of tail and non-aversive methods. 18% of respondents reported exclusively using non-aversive methods. The vast majority of participants were convinced that non-aversive handling improves animal welfare and scientific outcomes. However, the survey indicated that researchers were significantly less likely to have heard of non-aversive handling and more likely to use tail handling compared with animal care staff. Thematic analysis revealed there were concerns regarding the time required for non-aversive methods compared with tail handling, and that there was a perceived incompatibility of tunnel handling with restraint, health checks and other routine procedures. Respondents also highlighted a need for additional research into the impact of handling method that is representative of experimental protocols and physiological indicators used in the biomedical fields. This survey highlights where targeted research, outreach, training and funding may have the greatest impact on increasing uptake of non-aversive handling methods for laboratory mice.

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