The NC3Rs is looking for new technologies and methodologies for the global biosciences research community with the potential to minimise animal use and improve animal welfare. A total investment of £4.25 million is being invested into the CRACK IT Challenges research competition to facilitate this. The NC3Rs will provide financial support with in-kind contributions from individual companies.

The Challenges were launched at a meeting in central London on 20 September 2011. Industry sponsors presented details of the challenges and took part in Q&A sessions with potential applicants. Details of the Q&As will be available at the CRACK IT website.

Initial areas of focus are:

- A predictive in vitro screen for nephrotoxicity: from mice to men and back again

- Wireless recording of the electrophysiology of cognition in psychiatric disease models

- Rodent Big Brother: automated recording of rodent activity and temperature in the home cage

- Improving the predictive capacity of in vitro cytokine release assays to reduce animal use and drug attrition

- Improved in vitro to in vivo extrapolation in chemical safety risk assessment of human systemic toxicity

- BADIPS – Generating human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) to study bipolar affective disorder

This is an open competition commencing on 20 September 2011, with successful projects attracting 100% funding (including VAT where applicable) and lasting up to three years. We invite applications from all types and sizes of organisation, including the public and private sectors.