Studentships Outline Form

  1. Main supervisor name (incl., title)

  1. Email address

  1. Institutional address; where the award will be undertaken

Project title
  1. Scientific Background (maximum ~ 250 words)
  1. Objectives of the project and experimental plan (maximum ~ 300 words)
  1. Does your project seek to replace, reduce, or refine the use of animals in research?

Replacement Reduction Refinement

  1. Describe the current animal models/protocols that are in use in the area of interest, including the severity of harm, and the species and numbers of animals used. Then detail which of these models/protocols your project would seek to replace, reduce, or refine, and the species and potential numbers of animals that would be affected locally, and in the wider scientific community. (maximum ~ 300 words)

Please provide realistic metrics quantifying the scale of animal use and 3Rs impact.

Estimates can be made, for example, by searching literature databases to see how many papers are published each year reporting use of the particular animal model(s) and the typical number of animals used per experiment in the published papers.Consider answering the following questions:

Replacement/Reduction:

  • How many experiments/procedures/tests of this type are conducted in your laboratory/company? How many laboratories/companies worldwide conduct these tests? How many animals would no longer be used per experiment/procedure/test? What is the percentage reduction in animal use that could be achieved?

Refinement:

  • What is the evidence that animal suffering will be reduced/animal welfare improved? What objective indicators will be used to assess animal welfare? Is the severity limit for the procedure/protocol likely to be downgraded as a result of the proposed refinement technique? How many animals are likely to benefit per year both locally and in the wider scientific community?
  1. If you are developing a new model, tool, or protocol, explain how it will improve on the existing models, tools, or protocols, from both scientific and 3Rs perspectives. If you are further characterising, validating, or otherwise improving on an existing model, tool, or protocol, or utilising an existing one for a novel application, describe what the additional scientific and 3Rs impact of the work would be beyond what had already been achieved in the initial development of the model/tool/protocol. (maximum ~ 200 words)

Preliminary data and realistic 3Rs metrics should be included where possible.

  1. Discuss the barriers you might face in achieving widespread community uptake of your model/tool/protocol, and posit solutions to overcome them.(maximum ~ 150 words)
  1. What would be the continuing 3Rs impact of your work beyond the lifetime of the project? (maximum ~ 150 words)
  1. Research environment and training

Describe the size and composition of theresearch group the student will join, and how the student will be supported/integrated within the group.(maximum ~200 words)

Summarise the general training, in linewith the “Researcher Development Statement” developed by Vitae, that will be provided for the duration of the studentship.(maximum ~150 words)

Describe the specific 3Rs training the student will be provided.(maximum ~150 words)

The provision of mentoring and career guidance form an integral part of a studentship. Describe how this will be provided over the course of the studentship. (maximum ~150 words)