Accelerating Animal Replacement: How Universities Can Lead — Results of a One-Day Expert Workshop in Zurich, Switzerland
This report is a result of an interdisciplinary workshop held at the Collegium Helveticum in Zurich, Switzerland in February 2024, in which ideas for accelerating NAMs (New Approach Methodologies) in Swiss universities were shared and discussed. Due to regional differences in university organisation and funding structures, not all recommendations will be transferable to all regions worldwide. All participants were qualified to contribute to the discussion, due to their knowledge and experience of the Three Rs, in particular with regard to their implementation. The workshop participants believed that universities, which play a pioneering role in so many other areas, should also exploit their innovative potential in the field of animal-free research. The workshop uncovered four areas that would need to be addressed in order to achieve a significant change in university science culture and do more justice to the Three Rs, namely: language - innovative framing (pro-replacement framing in official university statements); knowledge transfer - communicating innovative findings in teaching (redirecting curriculum); change of values within science faculties; and structured implementation and well-coordinated planning of the transformation (establishment of a 'transition unit'). Specific strategies for implementing these four areas are outlined. In addition, we discuss why the replacement of animal testing should be an essential goal for universities, why this goal has not yet been achieved, and why concerted efforts toward change are required.
Authors
- Bernice S. Elger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4249-7399)
- Kirsten Persson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8783-1437)
- Saskia Stucki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5072-7326)
- Marie Fox (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7497-2070)
- Rosa Maria Cajiga Morales (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2769-4888)
- Miriam A. Zemanova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5002-3388)
- Charlotte E. Blattner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3530-4330)
- Adrian Heuss
- David Mawufemor Azilagbetor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1294-639X)
- Maneesha Deckha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5643-3687)
- Gail Davies (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6811-0885)
- Nico Dario Müller (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0866-8235)
- Barbara Rothen‐Rutishauser (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7805-9366)
- Merel Ritskes‐Hoitinga (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5315-284X)
- Edwin Louis-Maerten (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6554-4821)
- Nicole Lüthi
- Aoife Milford (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2637-4450)
- Katerina Stoykova
- Margot Michel
- Vanessa Gerritsen
- Laura Kämpfen
- Andreas Rüttimann
- Sara Faizee
Institutions
- University of Geneva (CH)
- University of Liverpool (GB)
- University of Fribourg (CH)
- University of Basel (CH)
- Utrecht University (NL)
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Aarhus University (DK)
- University of Victoria (CA)
- University of Exeter (GB)
- Institut für Tier-, Natur- und Umweltethik (DE)
- Adolphe Merkle Institute (CH)
- University Centre of Legal Medicine (CH)
- Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law (DE)
- University of Lausanne (CH)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Alternatives to Laboratory Animals
- Published
- 2025-03-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1177/02611929251317434
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Animal testing and alternatives
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 14.13
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
- Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich
- Universität Zürich