ATLA::Alternatives to Laboratory Animals

Volume 23, Number 3

Responsible animal research: a riff of Rs.

ATLA 23, 306-311, May/June 1995

Andrew Rowan1 and Alan Goldberg2

1Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA; 2Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, 111 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA

SUMMARY

The Three Rs, reduction, refinement and replacement, were introduced in 1959 by Russell & Burch in their important publication The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique. These Three Rs are now collectively referred to as alternatives. Using the letter R, we have developed an expanded list of Rs not only to stimulate our own thinking, but to encourage others to examine the issue of alternatives in animal research.

Keywords: reduction, refinement, replacement, alternatives