Focus on implementation: three implementation projects selected

The IAB was established in 2024. The task of this expert committee is to support the NRP 79 research groups in implementing their research results in practice. All research groups involved in NRP 79 were invited to submit projects in a first call for proposals, which were then evaluated and selected in a two-stage process. A total of 12 projects were submitted. These three projects convinced the jury the most:

• Preventing and treating compassion fatigue to support 3R implementation. Compassion fatigue is a well-known problem, especially among young scientists and animal caretakers who regularly work with laboratory animals. Working with laboratory animals requires the ability to feel compassion. However, excessive compassion can result in emotional numbing, exhaustion, sleep disorders, and other issues. Compassion fatigue not only affects the people involved, but also the animals. There is limited knowledge and understanding of compassion fatigue in Switzerland and there are only few training courses that specifically address the Swiss situation. A team led by Aoife Milford from the University of Basel wants to change this: As part of this implementation project, she will develop two training programs specifically for people who carry out or coordinate animal experiments. The aim of these programs is to provide participants with better training so that they can recognize the signs of compassion fatigue at an early stage and can take action against it.
• Bringing law to life - Let the 3Rs talk. Switzerland has a relatively clear legislation in the area of the 3Rs, stipulating that an animal experiments is impermissible in particular if the pain, suffering or harm it involves or anxiety it induces is disproportionate to the anticipated gain in knowledge. The major challenge lies in the fact that the law is not consistently implemented, according to Margot Michel's team at the University of Zurich. To change this, the team wants to build a bridge between the legal field and the natural sciences as part of this implementation project. Among other things, the team will produce podcasts and videos to support the relevant stakeholders in implementing the existing law.
• Co-creation workshop: informed consent for organoid use. Great hopes are pinned on organoids (so-called mini-organs): In the future, they should facilitate research and development of new therapies and thus reduce or replace animal testing. However, there are still various legal hurdles that need to be clarified, including consent: This is because patients must give their consent so that organoids can be developed from their cells. In order to work out this consent form in detail and define the process, the team led by Alfred Früh from the University of Basel will host a co-creation workshop involving key stakeholders from administration, patient organizations, industry, and other sectors.