Report 2025

Roche Global 3 Awards

Every two years, a member company presents global 3Rs Awards for outstanding scientific work that contributes to reducing animal testing and improving animal welfare. The 2025 award ceremony marked the tenth such event since its launch in 2007 and underscored the long-term strategic importance of the 3Rs principles.

The award is given to projects that demonstrate the practical implementation of replacement, reduction and refinement in an exemplary manner. The award-winning work covers a broad spectrum – from the development of human-based organoid models, which prevent the use of hundreds of laboratory animals every year, to targeted enrichment measures for primates and robot-assisted surgical systems that increase precision and reduce stress on the animals.

One particularly noteworthy project from Switzerland is an extraordinary internal training program in the field of surgery, methodology and technology. This program takes a significant step forward in laboratory animal education and training by deliberately avoiding the use of animals bred specifically for training purposes. Instead, surplus animals from external breeding partners are integrated into the internal training program. Employees can learn essential procedures under controlled conditions and in strict accordance with the 3Rs principles. The program strengthens the culture of care and saves resources while also ensuring high training standards.

Project name: Global 3Rs Awards
Charter articles: 1, 2, 3, 6, 9