This week, we’re introducing the 3Hs Initiative, a comprehensive approach to improving the welfare of laboratory rodents. Developed by the Psychopharmacology Research Group at the University of Bristol, this initiative aims to enhance the lifetime experience of mice and rats in research settings.

The 3Hs Initiative: Key Concepts

Housing, Handling, and Habituation (3Hs)

The 3Hs Initiative focuses on three core aspects to improve rodent welfare:

1. Housing: Enhancing living environments to support natural behaviors while meeting scientific requirements.
2. Handling: Reducing physical restraint to lower stress and negative affective states.
3. Habituation: Developing methods to create positive associations with handlers and reduce the stress of procedures.

Core Aims:

1. Reduce Physical Restraint: Minimize distress and long-term negative effects on welfare and scientific outcomes.
2. Improve Housing: Provide more natural environments for rodents, balancing welfare with scientific practicality.
3. Develop Habituation Methods: Facilitate positive experiences with handlers and mitigate negative impacts of procedures.
4. Evidence-Based Welfare Benefits: Use objective measures to validate improvements in animal welfare.

About the Research Group:

The Psychopharmacology Research Group, led by Professor Emma Robinson, specializes in studying cognitive and affective behaviors, particularly in mood disorders. Their innovative methods for assessing affective states in rodents provide unbiased insights into the welfare impacts of various procedures and environments.

Supported by the National Centre for the 3Rs and BBSRC, the group has developed a CPD learning resource to disseminate the 3Hs initiative. This resource includes videos, photos, and validation data to illustrate the methods and their benefits.

Check the resources here: https://www.3hs-initiative.co.uk/ 

How to Use the 3Hs Resource:

Each module provides detailed methods proven to positively impact animal welfare, divided into housing, handling, and habituation. The resource includes additional materials on objective methods to quantify affective states and guidance documents 🐭