COST IMPROVE Workshop | Improving the quality and reproducibility of NAMs research and animal studies

16-17 June 2026 | i3S, Porto, Portugal

This workshop will explore how better planning, design, conduct, quality control, and reporting can improve the reliability and value of both animal and non-animal research. Rather than treating these as separate worlds, the workshop will examine shared challenges such as weak study design, inadequate sizing, pseudoreplication, poor quality control, insufficient transparency, and avoidable sources of bias, while also addressing issues specific to each type of research. Topics will include the hidden animal cost of reagents used in cell culture and available alternatives, refinement factors such as stress, analgesia and anaesthesia, study design strategies that reduce animal use while increasing precision and information yield, sex as a biological variable in both animal and cell-based research, preregistration and open science practices, and the integration of the 3Rs from the earliest stages of planning and review. The programme will combine expert talks with practical, hands-on sessions aimed at giving participants concrete tools to improve the quality of their research.

This is a Training School of Cost Action IMPROVE 

Target audience: Researchers using Animal models, NAMs, or both, and concerned about the the quality, reproducibility and replicability of their research.

Course requirements: A degree in a scientific field, and some research experience.

Couse duration: 2 days

Certificate: A certificate of attendance will be assigned to participants who attend at least 80% of the course sessions.

Organizing committee: Nuno Henrique Franco (i3S)

Poster >>

Limited number of participants: 20

Application deadline: April 30th 2026

Application link >>

Please note that your application does not confirm that you have been selected for the course.
Support for travel and subsistence will be provided to participants selected for in-person participation. More information is available here.

More information:
Advanced Training Unit | E-mail: training@i3s.up.pt | Tel: +351 226 074 900