Support and Training for Researchers and Institutions

We provide free tools, training, funding, and advice to help both individual researchers and research institutions embed Replacement in science, strategy and teaching. Whether you are exploring alternatives to animals for your own project, teaching about Replacement or working to shape policies and culture at an institutional level, Replacing Animal Research is here to support you with training, advice, guidance and resources.

Our Shared Responsibility for Replacement

Replacement is a shared responsibility across all levels of science — from individual researchers and students to technicians, AWERB members, funders, regulators and research institutions. Everyone can play a role in exploring alternatives to animal use and embedding replacement into projects, policies, training, and governance.

We provide support for everyone in the research ecosystem to help you:

Find and implement non-animal methods wherever scientifically possible as required by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Avoid the use of animals and animal-derived products

Design projects that prioritise human-relevant approaches

Build institutional processes and policies that embed Replacement culture

Promote and communicate replacement science effectively to the public

Fund and disseminate Replacement science

Even when animal research methods are still required, embedding Replacement principles helps improve project design, equips future scientists with modern skills, and contributes to a future where science relies less on animals and support the implementation of the 2025 UK Government’s Replacing Animals in Science Strategy.

Publishing support

We co-publish the journal ATLA (Alternatives to Laboratory Animals) with SAGE Publishing, providing a platform for research, reviews, and commentary on alternatives.

We are also part of COLAAB, which works to tackle bias against non-animal methods in peer review and can support you if you experience pushback.

Undergraduate & PhD support

We work with teaching staff, universities and departments to ensure students learn about modern non-animal methods. We can provide advice, guidance or tailored teaching material. We actively promote animal-free PhD opportunities for students who want to avoid animal use.

We can also provide support or resources for school students or early-career scientists interested in science or policy careers without animal use.

When we have capacity we offer 3-month projects for relevant PhD students looking to complete a Professional Internships for PhD Students (PIPS) placement, and support with undergraduate research projects. Contact us at hello@replacinganimalresearch.org.uk to find out more.

Advocacy and involvement

If you’d like to play a bigger role in shaping the future of science without animals, you can:

Join the Alliance for Human-Relevant Science
Become a trustee or join our advisory panel
Contribute to our advocacy work

Support for Research Organisations and Governance

Who this is for:

Universities, research centres, AWERBs, Biological Units, and governance teams.

How we support you

We can help you embed replacement into policies, strategies, and processes so that it becomes part of your organisation’s culture. This could include:

3Rs strategies, as suggested by NC3Rs
Research integrity and governance frameworks
Ethics and responsible research policies
Broader plans for phasing out animal use, including reviewing non-ASPA animal work

Training and CPD

We provide replacement-focused training for researchers, licence holders, AWERB members, named persons, and technical staff. Training can be tailored for CPD, workshops, or events, for example on how to search for replacements or how to use our Replacement Checklist. We also recommend free online modules such as EU-52 from ETPLAS.

Undergraduate & PhD training

We support institutions to modernise bioscience curricula and doctoral training, ensuring students are confident working with non-animal, human-relevant methods. Where animal methods are still taught, we can help ensure students understand the regulatory responsibilities and how to critically explore alternatives. Get in touch to find out more.

Communication & public engagement

Replacement science has a wide public and student appeal, but it is often undercommunicated. For example, a 2018 survey found that 60% of the UK public want to know more about alternatives to animal use, but most know little or nothing about replacement methods. We can help institutions:

Highlight Replacement research to students and the public
Promote animal-free study opportunities
Demonstrate leadership in modern, human-relevant scientific approaches

This also aligns with transparency initiatives such as the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research in the UK.

Future-proofing

With the Government’s pledge to phase out animal testing, universities and research organisations play a central role in preparing future scientists. We can support planning around governance, training, and infrastructure to ensure your institution remains at the forefront of innovation.

Support and Training for Researchers and Research Institutions

Our Shared Responsibility for Replacement

Support for Researchers and Students

Who this is for:

Funding opportunities and support

Replacement tools and training

Publishing support

Undergraduate & PhD support

Advocacy and involvement

Support for Research Organisations and Governance

Who this is for:

How we support you

Training and CPD

Undergraduate & PhD training

Communication & public engagement

Future-proofing

Positive benefits of embedding Replacement

Embedding and communicating Replacement work can:

If we can support you or your institution with advice, guidance or specific training, please get in touch.

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