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Join us to discuss the changing use of animals in scientific research and testing.

Published date:

27 September 2016

A panel discussion chaired by Professor Stephen Holgate

18:15 – 20:15

The use of animals in research and testing is a sensitive issue. A number of alternative methods, such as cell culture-based and computational models, are already being developed and the UK might be leading the way in welfare of laboratory animals. Despite this, dependence on animal experimentation in research remains high and three quarters of Britons agree that there needs to be more research into alternatives.

Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (or the 3Rs) are guiding principles for the more ethical use – or non-use – of animals in research, which have gained substantial momentum over the last decade. But what efforts are being made to implement the 3Rs into contemporary research and are these efforts sufficient? How can the research on non-animal methods and the 3Rs in general be encouraged and funded more extensively? And eventually, how realistic is an animal-free future in research?

Come and discuss this important topic with our expert panel:

• Professor Stephen Holgate CBE is MRC Clinical Professor of Medicine and Honorary Consultant Physician at the University of Southampton and Board Chair of the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement & Reduction of Animals in Research.
• Professor Robin Lovell-Badge is Head of the Division of Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Genetics at the Francis Crick Institute and Fellow of the Royal Society.
• Dr Sally Robinson is Head of Laboratory Animal Science (UK) at AstraZeneca, signee of the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research.
• Professor Robin Williams is Head of the Biomedical Sciences Centre at Royal Holloway, University of London and conducts research using social amoeba, a non-animal model.

This event was developed in collaboration with the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement & Reduction of Animals in Research and is part of the Royal Society of Biology’s ‘Biology Week 2016’.

Tickets (£5) are available here.

Doors open at 18.00.