IC-3Rs News

The ‘’Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek” (FWO) has recently interviewed Em. Prof. Vera Rogiers from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel on the 3Rs Principle, the replacement of lab animals and innovations in the field of alternative methods. 👉Take a look at the video or listen to the podcast (below).

Het “Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek” (FWO) heeft onlangs Em. Vera Rogiers van de Vrije Universiteit Brussel geïnterviewd over het 3V-principe, de vervanging van proefdieren en innovaties op het gebied van alternatieve methoden. 👉Kijk naar de video of beluister de podcast (hieronder).

The FAGG - Federaal Agentschap voor Geneesmiddelen en Gezondheidsproducten is organizing a study day focused on 'Advancing the 3Rs for regulatory testing of medicines' on the 31st of January.

Location: Flanders Meeting and Convention Center Antwerp.

3D Organ Modelling in Health and Disease is the inaugural symposium at KU Leuven dedicated to the captivating field of 3D organ bioengineering. It will bring together representatives from various stakeholders (researchers, clinicians, industry) to present cutting-edge expertise and breakthroughs in 3D organ modelling and biomedical/translational application. The symposium is open to a wide public interested in the field, to learn on its immense potential in biomedical research, regenerative medicine and precision (personalized) drug discovery.

Abstract submission: at the latest by February 10th, 2024

Dates: 8 and 9 April 2024

Location: Onderwijs en Navorsing, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven. Near the Gasthuisberg hospital in Leuven, just a 10-minute bus ride from the city center. 

On December 12^th a Chinese delegation of cosmetics regulators in China visited the In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology (IVTD) unit at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). IC-3Rs was delighted to discuss the European regulations aimed to develop cosmetics without animal testing.

Contact us if you want to visit the The Innovation Centre 3Rs (IC-3Rs) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) to learn more on the implementation of the 3Rs (Replace, Reduce, Refine) in scientific research by using state-of-the-art technology and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), our mission.

On the 12th of December from 4 to 5 pm CET, RE-Place organises a fourth educational webinar on bacterial assays. First, Prof. Charles Van Der Henst (VIB) will discuss his work on the antiphagocytic capsule of the WHO priority pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. His presentation will be followed by Sien Lequeue (VUB) who will present her work on the development of a bacterial high-throughput screening system to evaluate missense variants of human homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase in the context of alkaptonuria.

All webinars are free of charge, but registration is mandatory

The Swedish 3Rs Center has created a short animated video that informs in a very accessible way about the 3R principle and the use of laboratory animals in biomedical research. Watch the video below in English.

RE-Place organises a series of Educational Webinars which aims to promote the use and development of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) by putting the existing knowledge in the spotlight. The third session will take place on Thursday the 26^th of October from 4 to 5 pm CET via Webex and will zoom in on NAMs in the fields of ecotoxicity and veterinary medicine.

During this session, we will have two speakers from the University of Ghent. First, Dr. Maaike Vercauteren will present the ‘Innovative two chamber skin explant model for marine and freshwater fish’. Her presentation will be followed by Ingrid Vernemmen who will discuss the development of an ‘Ultrasound compatible 3D model of the equine heart’.

All webinars are free of charge, but registration is mandatory

As a humanist university, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) believes that science and empathy go hand in hand. In research that involves animals, respect and welfare are paramount. VUB recently committed to be part of the regional action plan of Flemish Animal Welfare minister Ben Weyts to reduce animal testing. The plan supports the university in its ambition to promote alternatives to animal testing, with the 3Rs principle – replace, reduce and refine – as an ethical framework.

By participating in the Flemish initiative, 20 Belgian research institutions have committed to investing in alternatives to animal testing by drawing up their own action plans. VUB is also making this commitment, seeing it as an opportunity to promote the application of the 3R principle, in particular the development of animal-free research methods.

RE-Place organises a series of Educational Webinars which aims to promote the use and development of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) by putting the existing knowledge in the spotlight. The second session will take place on the 14^th of September from 4 to 5 pm CET via Webex and will zoom in on the development and optimisation of cellular models.

First, Léa Hiéronimus of the UCL will present his work titled 'From a 3D-model of particle-induced granuloma-like structure to a simple 2D-macrophage bioassay predicting granulomagenic and fibrotic activity of inhaled particles'. This presentation will be followed by Amar van Laar (UGent) who will discuss his work on the ‘Metabolism and Health Effects of Rare Sugars in a CACO-2/HepG2 Coculture Model’. 

All webinars are free of charge, but registration is mandatory