The funding from the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) is part of a £4.85M investment from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) into the reduction of the use of animal-derived products and approaches in research.  Reagents, such as antibodies or serums used for every day lab protocols, often include animal products or by-products, which contributes to the high resource usage associated with research institutes. Swapping to products which don’t require animals for their production is just one way the LMS can lower its carbon footprint, while maintaining high standards in research. This project reflects the LMS’s wider commitment to reducing animals in research, both directly and indirectly.  

“We are delighted to have our work recognised and supported by the NC3Rs. This gives us a great platform to focus on the interlinked issues of animal use and sustainability in the labs,” says Julia Needham, former Head of the Greening Committee at the LMS, “This funding is critical in allowing the LMS to lead the adoption of new protocols and procedures to build confidence in non-animal replacements in scientific settings.” 

The money will contribute to the validation of non-animal derived antibodies across the LMS, including projects centred around our flow cytometry, proteomics, microscopy facilities as well as centralised tissue culture protocols. The aim of these projects is to increase confidence in using non-animal derived antibodies at the LMS so that other research groups in the institute and more broadly across our collaborators will take up the practice. If successful, the project could result in the equivalent of replacing the use of 6,000 animals a year. Additionally, the team plans to share their findings with other UK and international institutes to promote the wider adoption of animal-free protocols. 

“By validating non-animal derived products, we hope to showcase to research groups within our own institute and the wider MRC that ethical alternatives can be both effective and reliable for a range of scientific applications,” says Nicola Rodricks, Sustainability Officer at the LMS, “This aligns with evolving research standards but also supports the movement towards more humane, eco-friendly practices in scientific research.”