‘Environmental enrichment and fish’

March 2007
This meeting discussed the requirements of zebrafish for environmental enrichment and share experiences, ideas and methods to implement this. Applications to basic research and toxicity testing were covered.
Talks included:
The natural ecology and behaviour of zebrafish
What is environmental enrichment?
Do zebrafish need environmental enrichment?
A Home Office Inspector’s perspective
Practical issues for implementing an enrichment programme

A report on the meeting will be posted shortly.

Previous topics covered:

In 2006 the meeting which took place was
'Pictures speak louder than words'

Over 50 delegates attended to hear how imaging technology is being applied to reduce, refine and replace animal research. A speaker from AZ gave an excellent overview of its application and contribution to the 3Rs with examples of of how it can be used to reduce animal numbers, detect earlier and subclinical endpoints and provide biomarker information for clinical trials. Speakers from industry, academia and manufacturers described the practicalities (and impracticalities) of the most common technique, magnetic resonance imaging, and its current uses in animal models of cancer and brain diseases and TB and veterinary medicine. The use of bioluminescent imaging to monitor deep-sited tumours in cancer models was also demonstrated.
For a copy of the abstracts booklet click here

The Alternatives Section held a one-day meeting on 17 March 2005 on the subject of small samples.

Contributions were sought from anyone wanting to share ideas and methods that maximise the amount of information that can be obtained from the smallest size samples of blood, urine, tissue or less invasive sampling techniques.
A full-house heard a varied programme of presentations; no papers were published.

Details of any further meetings this year will be posted as they become available

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