Embracing ethical research: Implementing the 3R principles into fracture healing research for sustainable scientific progress

Abstract

As scientific advancements continue to reshape the world, it becomes increasingly crucial to uphold ethical standards and minimize the potentially adverse impact of research activities. In this context, the implementation of the 3R principles—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement—has emerged as a prominent framework for promoting ethical research practices in the use of animals. This article aims to explore recent advances in integrating the 3R principles into fracture healing research, highlighting their potential to enhance animal welfare, scientific validity, and societal trust. The review focuses on in vitro, in silico, ex vivo, and refined in vivo methods, which have the potential to replace, reduce, and refine animal experiments in musculoskeletal, bone, and fracture healing research. Here, we review material that was presented at the workshop “Implementing 3R Principles into Fracture Healing Research” at the 2023 Orthopedic Research Society (ORS) Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas.