They are being supported in running workshops by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs).

The way laboratory animals are handled has a major impact on their welfare. Changing the way mice are picked up, using a tunnel or cupped hands instead of picking them up by the tail, is a significant refinement for laboratory mice.

Since the initial publication showing the welfare benefits of refined handling techniques in 2010, research has overwhelmingly shown that mice picked up using cup and tunnel methods display lower anxiety and greater willingness to interact with handlers than mice picked up by the tail.

Newcastle University has implemented an institution-wide refined handling policy, and mice in the animal facility are only ever picked up using these techniques.

Now Newcastle University animal technicians, with the support of the NC3Rs, are sharing their experiences and practical mouse handling skills with others through technician-led workshops across the UK. They are being delivered by Claire Robinson, Named Training and Competency Officer (NTCO) and Terri-Anne Cooper, Procedural Technician.

Claire said: “We believe that all mice used in research should be picked up using low stress, refined methods and we want to share our experiences and support other institutions to make this the standard within their own mouse units.”

Sharing best practice

Using their experience of Newcastle University work involving mice in cardiovascular disease, cancer research, neuroscience and rare genetic diseases, Claire and Terri-Anne have been able to apply their knowledge of tunnel handling for other institutions.

They recently delivered two workshops at the University of Leeds – an in-person session with 12 animal technicians and an online course for more than 40 researchers working with mice. These have enabled the University of Leeds Animal Welfare Ethical Review Body (AWERB) to make refined handling the standard approach used across the institution.

Their goal is that every single mouse globally is handled using refined methods and that in the future no new animal technologists or researchers will be trained in methods of handling other than refined techniques. But for now, their focus is to make this standard for all mice housed in research facilities in the UK.

Newcastle University’s involvement in delivering training and sharing best practice reflects its ongoing commitment to a culture of care in research, supporting both animal welfare and scientific excellence.

Read firsthand from Claire and Terri-Anne about their experience of training others to use tunnel handling in the NC3Rs article.