Platform supports Research and Industry with Animal Use Reduction and Welfare

The National Centre for the Replacement Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) fosters active collaborations between universities and industry through its CRACK IT Open Innovation Programme; this funds research and early careers connects researchers to facilities, expertise and technologies required to realise the scientific, commercial and animal welfare benefits of 3Rs technologies.

CRACK IT aims to accelerates the availability of technologies which will deliver i) measurable 3Rs impacts, ii) new marketable products and iii) more efficient business processes. It is the NC3Rs response to the changing environment in the biosciences and exploits the sector's willingness to embrace open innovation approaches to solve business and scientific problems relating to the use of animals.

The pharmaceutical, chemical and consumer products industries are increasingly outsourcing research, collaborating pre-competitively to reduce attrition and open to novel approaches to reduce animal use. Greater knowledge of the limitations of the animal models (for example, the lack of translation of findings in animals to humans), and the scientific benefits of improved animal welfare have led to an urgent need for more predictive, human-relevant systems for efficacy and safety research, and more humane research models, respectively. Often, industry seeks solutions to these challenges from the academic and small to medium enterprise (SME) sectors.

CRACK IT has been developed with two parts to maximise both scientific and commercial benefits of new and emerging technologies:

CRACK IT Challenges: A competition that funds collaborations between industry, academics and SMEs to solve scientific and business challenges involving animals. There are benefits for all participants; industry gets access to scientific and technological innovations emerging from the science base and an end product which meets their needs; academics have a pathway for exploiting their research; and SMEs are provided with a ready-made market.

CRACK IT Solutions: A technology partnering hub to accelerate the translation of technologies with potential 3Rs impacts (referred to as 'Solutions') out of the science base and into application to maximise the scientific and commercial benefits. The hub showcases Solutions helping to identify new partners and customers to use, develop and validate the technology.

For challenges that require a significant amount of funding and may include research, development and validation of new technologies, prototypes and methods, there is a two-phase application process.

Phase 1: The Review Panel recommends funding up to three (3) projects to deliver proof-of-concept studies. Contracts are up to six (6) months with funding of up to £100k.

Phase 2: Following presentation of proof-of-concept, the Challenge Panel recommends up to one (1) project to support in Phase 2 to address the full Challenge requirements. Entry into Phase 2 is dependent on successful completion of Phase 1. Contracts are up to three (3) years with funding of up to £1 million.

For challenges which either primarily focus on the validation of new technologies, prototypes and methods that are closer to market or require less research and lower development costs compared to Two-Phase Challenges, there is a Single Phase competition. Applicants should refer to the Guide for Participants which contains more information on the competition.

Applications shortlisted by the Review Panel will be invited to present their proposals to the Challenge Panel where up to one (1) contract for up to one (1) year will be awarded with up to £100k to deliver the Challenge brief.

For further information on current challenges visit www.nc3rs.org.uk