Ethics of Research involving animals
Reduction and Refinement
Introduction
12.1 In the previous chapter we discussed the opportunities and current limitations of the first of Russell and Burch’s Three Rs, the Replacement approach. We now turn to the remaining two concepts Refinement and Reduction, which need to be considered whenever the use of animals to achieve a scientific objective is deemed unavoidable. As we have said, the Three Rs are closely interrelated.1 The relationship between Reduction and Refinement is particularly evident when these principles are applied at the early stage of research projects to improve research strategy as a whole. We first give brief consideration to this relationship and then examine Reduction and Refinement more closely as individual concepts. The role of harmonising international test guidelines for the purpose of reducing animal research is then explored before we focus on the potential of Refinements. We give examples of how to implement Refinements in specific areas of research and also consider possible barriers.
Footnotes1 Russell and Burch themselves acknowledged that there was overlap between the Three Rs; see Russell WMS and Burch RL (1959)
The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique (London: Methuen).