3Rs missing: animal research without scientific value is unethical

Area of Science:

• Animal research ethics
• Scientific methodology
• Biomedical research

Background:

• The current 3R framework (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) focuses on animal welfare.
• Animal welfare alone does not guarantee ethical research; scientific validity is crucial.
• Lack of robustness, redundant research, and selective reporting diminish scientific value.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an expanded 6R framework for ethical and scientifically valid animal research.
• To introduce Robustness, Registration, and Reporting as essential principles.
• To advocate for a multistakeholder discourse on implementing the new framework.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of existing ethical frameworks for animal research.
• Argumentation for the necessity of scientific value in ethical considerations.
• Proposal of new principles and a framework for implementation.

Main Results:

• Identification of critical gaps in the current 3R framework concerning scientific value.
• Proposal of three additional principles: Robustness, Registration, and Reporting.
• Advocacy for a 6R framework encompassing both animal welfare and scientific validity.

Conclusions:

• The 3R framework is insufficient for ensuring ethical animal research due to its limited focus on scientific value.
• A comprehensive 6R framework (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement, Robustness, Registration, Reporting) is needed.
• Multistakeholder dialogue is essential to define and implement the requirements for Robustness, Registration, and Reporting.