Dr. Megan LaFollette is the Executive Director at the 3Rs Collaborative, where she leads over 100 volunteers across the globe in advancing replacement, reduction, and refinement. With over a decade of experience in practical animal welfare and 3Rs solutions, she has been instrumental in advancing widespread implementation of evidence-based strategies such as refined mouse handling, rat tickling, workplace wellness programs, environmental health monitoring, and microphysiological systems. She holds a PhD in Animal Behavior and Welfare from Purdue University and sits on the AVMA’s steering committee for human-animal interactions. Dr. LaFollette is driven by a deep belief in the power of collaboration to advance better science - for both people and animals.
From Innovation to Implementation: Driving Acceptance of 3Rs-Aligned Technologies
As the scientific community continues to prioritize ethical and human-relevant research, the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) remain central to advancing scientific innovation and animal welfare. Emerging technologies such as microphysiological systems (MPS), artificial intelligence, and digital biomarkers are powerful tools that enhance translational relevance while aligning with the 3Rs. However, despite their promise, widespread adoption remains limited due to behavioral, institutional, and regulatory barriers.
The 3Rs Collaborative, a U.S.-based nonprofit, is actively addressing these challenges by applying a scientific theory of human behavior change and fostering strategic, cross-sector working groups. Through this approach, we aim to accelerate the acceptance and integration of 3Rs-aligned technologies across research, industry, and regulatory landscapes. In this session, attendees will learn about efforts to advance these technologies including learning about the 3Rs Collaborative’s ambitious cross-platform project with the U.S. FDA evaluating the use of MPS for DILI applications that involves 9 commercial developers.