RE-PLACE III: Maintaining the platform for alternative methods to animal testing

Every year, more than half a million laboratory animals are used in Belgium for various scientific and educational purposes. However, the use of laboratory animals is challenged due to ethical, economic and scientific concerns. Consequently, alternative methods – such as in silico models, in chemico assays, in vitro methods, high-throughput techniques and alternative in vivo tests – are being developed. Unfortunately, the existing expertise on these alternative methods is extremely scattered and there is no clear overview on who is familiar with which tests, and where these techniques can be learned.
In this context, the Flemish Government launched a call in 2016 to establish a platform for alternative methods to animal testing. About one year later, the Brussels-Capital Region joined the project. This project, now called ‘RE-Place’, is coordinated by Sciensano in collaboration with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. RE-Place aims to gather the existing expertise on the use of alternative methods into one central database (accessible at www.RE-place.be) to make this information more easily accessible to both the scientific community and the general public. The innovative character of RE-Place lies in the practical utility of its curated information: it provides information on current and new alternative methods used in Belgium and links each method to a name of a contact person and their institution.

While ‘RE-PLACE I’ focused on the development of the online tool and website, ‘RE-PLACE II’ was directed at optimising the platform by implementing new features and improving its design. Both projects aimed to increase the overall visibility of the initiative and to expand the number of submitted methods by contacting scientists and creating incentives for them to contribute.
Although great efforts were made during RE-Place I and II to build the content of the platform, it remains an ongoing challenge to capture the remaining expertise on alternative methods in Belgium. Therefore, in 2024, the project received another extension as ‘RE-PLACE III’ to continue maintaining and expanding the RE-Place platform. The objectives of RE-Place III include (I) expanding the RE-Place database with more expertise; (II) maintaining and optimising the content and features of the overall RE-Place platform; (III) disseminating knowledge on alternative approaches as a stimulus for the use of non-animal methods while positioning itself as a consolidated 3Rs centre; and (IV) supporting further initiatives from the Flemish Government regarding the reduction of laboratory animals.

With the launch of RE-Place III, the Flemish and Brussels regions reaffirm their commitment to the 3Rs Principle and the promotion of alternative methods, wherever scientifically possible. In recent years, the RE-Place platform has become an established leader in the field of alternative methods to animal testing and has proven to be an added value to the Flemish Government and its policy on the replacement and reduction of animal testing.