Launch of the Replacement of Animal-Derived Products in Life Sciences working group: ReALiSe

The 3Rs Centre Utrecht (3RCU) is pleased to announce the launch of its working group Replacement of Animal-Derived Products in Life Sciences (ReALiSe). 

Previously known as the Gels & Sera working group, ReALiSe has an expanded scope and audience. While the original focus was primarily on fetal calf serum (FCS) and basement membrane extracts (BMEs) such as Matrigel, the working group now addresses a broader range of animal-derived products (ADP) used in life science research. These include, among others, animal-derived antibodies, extracellular matrix (ECM) components, growth factors, enzymes, and other supplements originating from animal sources. The use of ADP is associated with significant ‘invisible animal use', while animal-free alternatives are becoming more and more available.

With this broader scope, ReALiSe aims to support researchers at all stages of the replacement process — from early exploration of alternatives to implementation and validation in established workflows. The working group brings together researchers to share progress, discuss technical challenges, exchange experiences with animal-free alternatives, and explore funding and collaboration opportunities. Meetings are organized on a regular basis to foster open discussion and knowledge exchange.

ReALiSe is now open to researchers beyond USP, and we warmly welcome new members who are working on replacing ADP in their research or who are interested in learning more about available alternatives.

Interested in joining the ReALiSe working group? Please contact us at 3RCU@uu.nl