Genova, 23^rd September 2025 - The COST Action IMPROVE successfully held its next 3Rs centres Workshop at the Università degli Studi di Genova, Dipartimento Architettura e Design (DAD), gathering leading researchers and stakeholders from across Europe.

Over two days from 17^th to 18^th of September, participants engaged in collaborative sessions focused on the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) and the role and future activities within the 3Rs centre network EU3Rnet.

The workshop opened with remarks from Arti Ahluwalia and Winfried Neuhaus, followed by updates on the Memorandum of Understanding and the Balkan Regional 3R Centre.

Attendees took part in discussions on communication, funding, and sustainability, and enjoyed valuable networking opportunities, including a group dinner in the heart of Genova. The second day featured sessions on the organisation and management of EU3Rnet, short pitches on emerging topics, and the formation of new working groups to address key challenges in the field.

The hybrid format allowed both in-person (about 40) and online participation, ensuring broad engagement and collaboration.

This event was held together with the Next Gen3Ration Research meeting of the Italian 3R centre (Centro 3R; https://www.centro3r.it/it/events/next-gen3ration-research) from 18^th to 19^th of September.

A heartfelt thank you to the organisers of this remarkable event - Elena Grasselli and her team !

Next to the hybrid Management committee meeting, it was worked on several objectives, but also new topic of the working groups 1 and 2 such as the involvement of animal caretakers in the research process or a NAM expert data base.

Group photo at the end of the WG meetings

The COST Action IMPROVE has introduced itself at the Symposium on "3Rs and NAMs: all-inclusive?" in Utrecht, The Netherlands on the 19th of June 2024 (The 3Rs and NAMs: all-inclusive? - News & Events - Utrecht University).

See also following link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vootele-voikar-2020_3rs-3rs-activity-7209250078639718400-J2o9?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

One session featuring leaders of the IMPROVE - 3Rs concepts to improve the quality of biomedical science (CA21139) - Winfried Neuhaus / Nuno Henrique Franco / Jeffrey Bajramovic , talking about sustainability of 3Rs and how this concept is covering good science with best methods available, also the role of increasing number of 3R Centers in Europe.

Dr. Eva Jablonská (University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague, Czech Republic) had a great opportunity to spend more than two months (15.1.-22.3.2024) at the Dermatotoxicology Study Centre, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) in Berlin. During the STSM granted by CA IMPROVE, she tested natural extracts from marine algae for photoprotective properties. Specifically, she irradiated human dermal fibroblasts with UV light and tested whether these extracts could prevent cellular damage.

Overall, the atmosphere at BfR was very welcoming and supportive. Additionally, the discussion about methods of genotoxicity testing were very fruitful.

Moreover, the grantee was fortunate to attend a three-day symposium on genotoxicity held by BfR, where quantitative approaches towards genotoxicity assessment were discussed.

Thanks to dissemination conference grants under Cost Action IMPROVE Arti Ahluwalia and Winfried Neuhaus attended the 12th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences (WC12) from August 27-31, 2023.

Arti Ahluwalia presented two lectures, one in the Symposium “Future of Multi-Scale Modelling and Simulation in Disease and Toxicology” (Title of the talk: Lab on a laptop: beyond the experimental model) and one in the Symposium “Implementing the 3Rs in Education under the theme Next-Gen Education” (Title of the talk: Centro 3R, mainstreaming replacement through pervasive 3R education). The first presentation described some of the virtual models developed in her lab. During her talk she put forward the proposal that in vitro models might be replaced by the “lab on a laptop”. Following the symposium, she was involved in engaging discussions on the value of in-silico models, analysing why they are not widely used and how to render them accessible to enable the implementation of viable and valid alternatives to animal experiments. This is a central theme in IMPROVE. In the second presentation she described the state of knowledge on the 3Rs at Italian universities before and after the Italian Centro 3R’s (www.centr3r.it) campaign of pervasive education at all levels. The results showed how education significantly increases the application of the 3Rs and promotes responsible research linked to WG4 Education of our COST Action.

Winfried Neuhaus gave a talk in the session "A World of 3Rs Centres: Unity in Diversity" entitled "The Rise of European 3Rs centres and their network EU3Rnet" focusing on the promotion of the COST Action IMPROVE as an outcome of the collaboration of the European 3R centres.

The WC12 congress was a dynamic and variegated event, providing a great opportunity to discuss the future of the 3Rs with scientists from all over the world, network with young researchers and leaders in the field, and to showcase Europe’s leadership in this area.