EDUCATION AND TRAINING - A BASIS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THE 3RS-ALTERNATIVES INTO ANIMAL RESEARCH

Education is a highly effective way of promoting the introduction of a lternatives into the everyday practice of biomedical research and test ing. In some countries, specific requirements for the education of per sons involved in animal experimentation have been made compulsory by l aw. In The Netherlands, young scientists must take a course on laborat ory animal science as part of, or in addition to, their biomedical gra duate programme. This course provides information on the proper design of animal experiments, but also covers alternatives, animal welfare i ssues and ethical aspects of animal experimentation. The Three Rs of R ussell and Burch are the guiding principles of the course, during whic h participants are challenged to seek methods or techniques that can r eplace, reduce or refine the use of animals. Since 1985, more than 250 0 people in The Netherlands have taken the course, and evaluations hav e indicated that a large majority of the participants appreciated this education as a contribution to both the quality of experiments and th e welfare of the animals, and considered the course to be indispensabl e for those who are responsible for the design and performance of anim al experiments.