Mastering animal research: inside the 22nd workshop on laboratory rodents care and use 2026

This article provides a comprehensive synthesis of the 22nd Workshop on Laboratory Rodents Care and Use (2026), highlighting critical advances in ethical animal experimentation, humane handling, and standardized research protocols. The workshop emphasizes the practical implementation of the 3Rs principles (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) to enhance both animal welfare standards and the scientific rigor of biomedical research. Key training modules examine optimal rodent housing, strain-specific husbandry, non-invasive handling techniques, proper anesthesia, and precise experimental administration methods. By bridging regulatory compliance with practical laboratory skills, the program serves as an essential framework for researchers, technicians, and animal welfare officers dedicated to maintaining ethical integrity and reproducibility in rodent-based scientific studies.