In 2020 and 2024, the Swiss 3RCC and the Swiss Culture of Care Network carried out two surveys on the use of non-aversive mouse handling methods among animal care and research staff in Switzerland. Here are the results from the surveys.
The Swiss 3R Competence Centre (3RCC) honours the Award winners: Fides Zenk, Doris Zauchner & Manon Murdeu for groundbreaking, human-relevant research replacing and reducing animal use in science.
The Pint of Science has had huge success in reaching the public with science for many years and we were delighted to host evenings of the 3Rs presentations and discussion in Bern and Geneva in May 2025.
The Swiss 3R Competence Centre (3RCC) has appointed former Vice Chair, Dr. Homare Yamahachi from the University of Bern as the new Executive Board Chair, effective 2025.
The main 3Rs Award of CHF 4'000.- is given for exceptional work that has made a significant contribution to the Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement of animal experimentation (the 3Rs Principle).
A further CHF 2500.- prize, the Young 3Rs Investigator Award, is given to two researchers in the early stages of their careers for their individual achievements advancing the 3Rs principle and is co-funded by the NRP 79.
Swiss 3RCC Funding Opportunities: Now Accepting Applications
Swiss 3RCC is pleased to announce its funding schemes for the 2025–2028 period. These grants aim to advance the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) through innovative research.
The award goes to Dr. Petra Seebeck (University of Zurich) & Dr. Stephan Zeiter (AO Research Institute Davos) for their pioneering initiative in promoting Good Surgical Practice in rodent surgery.
The 3Rs are a fundamental principle for professionals working in science with animals, yet outside the research community, they remain relatively unknown. For the 3RCC, outreach is imperative—not only to highlight the importance of animals in research but also to showcase the continuous progress being made to Replace and Reduce animals in science, and to Refine their use. With this goal in mind, and on a chilly Saturday night in November, the 3RCC brought the 3Rs to a packed audience at CatCave9, a monthly improv show.
Two pioneering research projects will be funded under the Targeted Call 2023 funding scheme to advance responsibility by reducing surplus animals and promoting change.
The Swiss 3RCC has announced the recipients of the 2023 3Rs award and the Young 3Rs Investigator Award.
The 3RCC will fund five research projects spanning different focuses within the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement) at Swiss research institutions with a total of CHF 1,855,623.
The Swiss 3R Competence Centre (3RCC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Rolf Zeller as its new Vice President.