Tracking and the 3Rs

Replacement, reduction and refinement, the 3Rs, are the backbone of humane animal research. Good tracking quietly helps with all three.

• Reduction: more measures from each animal and less observer noise mean fewer animals for the same statistical power.
• Refinement: shorter sessions and less handling when everything is recorded automatically.
• Replacement: human virtual reality versions of some tasks can answer certain questions with no animals at all.

For more, see NC3Rs and the ARRIVE guidelines.