The use of fetal calf serum (FCS), an animal-derived product that still is the standard in cell culture protocols, has as a consequence that even in vitro research is not truly animal-free. About two calves are needed to produce one liter of FCS, which is used in high amounts for biomedical research. However, its animal-unfriendly sourcing, inherent batch-batch variability and unknown composition provide ethical and scientific arguments to rather use alternatives. This list of arguments also includes sustainability, as we cannot continue to produce the quantity of serum we currently use for research indefinitely considering the number of calves needed.

Developed by the 3RCU, this public database provides detailed and searchable information on the available alternatives for the use of FCS. The FCS-free database requires regular updating and upgrading – recently the 3RCU added a new section on the availability of FCS-free cryopreservatives.

Many in vitro models still rely on the use of murine-derived basement membrane extracts (BMEs) like Matrigel. The use of BMEs is associated with animal suffering and scientific considerations. Therefore, the 3RCU developed a publicly available database that provides a comprehensive overview of alternative (animal-free) products for in vitro applications where BMEs are commonly used, such as organoids and induced pluripotent stem cells. The database was launched April 24th 2025 and can be accessed here. This search tool allows researchers to finetune their search for finding suitable alternatives for their specific application. Additionally, the BME-free database will be accompanied by a campaign in May 2025. A link to this campaign will be shared on the 3RCU website and on their LinkedIn page.

Recently, the EU has been advised to phase out the use of animal-derived and animal-produced antibodies, given the technical availability of (theoretical) alternatives for obtaining and producing antibodies, such as through phage display and recombinant technology. For this reason, the 3RCU has started a collaboration with a Swiss company that has a large phage display library at its disposal and exclusively sells animal-free, recombinant antibodies. They have provided us with a mini library of recombinant animal-free antibodies that we are currently testing with researchers from UMC Utrecht for several applications. These antibodies also improve the quality and reproducibility of research because their coding DNA sequences are known, ensuring that researchers are working with the exact same material as their colleagues. The 3RCU teamed up with Green Labs NL to test the animal-free antibodies and further encourage scientists to consider this animal-free antibodies for their research. A useful database for recombinant antibodies can be accessed here.