The Bellinzona Institutes of Science (Bios+) is recognised for their Culture of Care towards their laboratory animals.

The Culture of Care Working Group of the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Bellinzona Institutes of Science (Bios+) won the Culture of Care Award 2025 in recognition of fostering a culture of care for animals used in research. The jury highlighted the comprehensive strategy based on staff involvement, which guided their efforts. Established in 2024, the working group brings together animal care staff, researchers, veterinarians and administrative personnel from across Bios+ to improve communication, transparency and welfare standards in animal care. The group opened internal communication channels dedicated to animal welfare, established standard operating procedures (SOPs) and organised events honouring animal care professionals. Through these and other targeted actions, the group has built a supportive and collaborative environment that enhances both animal welfare and staff wellbeing. 

The Swiss 3R competence centre presented the award to Cristina Torcasio, lab manager at the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), in representation of the group, at the annual conference of the Swiss Laboratory Animal Science Association (SGV) on December 3rd 2025, at the Technopark in Zurich.  The IOR is affiliated to USI and one of the institutions grouped within the Bios+. Melania Osto, Laura Terzaghi, Cristina Torcasio, Deborah Piffaretti and Davide Manfredini, members of the working group present at the award ceremony in Zurich. 

A collaborative approach to responsible research 

The winning group’s initiative stands out for its systematic and inclusive approach to implementing the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) and promoting ethical research practices. Following a 2024 survey identifying initial needs in the community, key achievements include: 

• Improved communication: Launch of the “Mouse Research Community” Teams platform as a central hub for sharing information, SOPs, training resources and feedback among animal research professionals. 

• Standardisation of procedures: Development of shared SOPs to support licence applications, strengthen experimental reproducibility and streamline approval processes. 

• Community engagement and training: Annual events such as Laboratory Animal Technician Week and the seminar Culture of Care in Action: From Ideas to Impact have raised awareness across disciplines, while workshops and courses address practical needs in study planning and animal welfare. 

With strong institutional support, the Culture of Care Working Group has also initiated plans for future surveys, internal awards and new funding mechanisms to sustain and expand its impact. 

Recognised as a model for others 

In their evaluation, the jury praised the Bios+ initiative for its innovation, inclusiveness and highly transferable approach to fostering a culture of care. Jury members noted that it “integrates voices from across the research community, including animal caretakers, researchers and animal welfare officers with the shared goal of raising standards,” and praised it as a “unique initiative which could serve as a model for other institutions.” 

A shared commitment to care 

The Culture of Care Award highlights initiatives that go beyond legal requirements and create a caring research environment that benefits animals, researchers and society. The Swiss 3R Competence Centre (3RCC) is committed to promoting a culture in which ethical, transparent and innovative research practices thrive. The winners receive a cash prize of CHF 3’000, a trophy, the opportunity to present their activities at a relevant conference and the preparation of a short communication on the topic. For more information about the Culture of Care Award and the Swiss 3RCC, please visit the Swiss3RCC website. 

Studying rodents in the laboratory helps understand the course of diseases 

At Bios+ animal models are essential to advancing research in immunology, oncology and translational research. The use of rodent models are fundamental to translating scientific discoveries into safer and more effective treatments for patients. Scientists use them to investigate, for example, the molecular mechanisms involved in the initiation, progression and consequences of pathological processes. 

The 3Rs are the guiding principle for the use of animals in scientific research and product testing. Their goal is improving animal welfare while advancing science. Replacement means using scientific methods that do not involve living animals to substitute those that do. Reduction means using research designs that allow to gain more knowledge while using fewer animals. Refinement means improve research settings to alleviate pain and distress for the animals involved. 

The 3R principle is today internationally widely recognised by scientists as a moral obligation. It is moreover implemented in many national legislations on animal protection. 

The Culture of Care increases the sensibilities of researchers and other staff members, so that they care for animals more and identify strategies that enhance reduction and refinement beyond national and institutional policies. 

About the Bios+ 

Bellinzona Institutes of Science (Bios+)  is a non-profit association aiming to promote, support and coordinate the scientific research and teaching activities of its members in view of the establishment in Bellinzona (Switzerland) of a national and international research centre for life sciences. 
Bios+ was founded on July 21, 2021 with two members, the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) and the Institute for Oncology Research (IOR)  based in Bellinzona and both affiliated to Università della Svizzera italiana (USI). 

In July 2025 an agreement between USI and Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale lead to the establishment of the Institute for Translational Research which also was established as an evolution of the Laboratories for Translational Research (LRT). With its headquarters in Bellinzona, at the Bios+ Building, it also represents a significant partner for IRB and IOR. 

The CoC Working Group at Bios+ reinforces these objectives by fostering excellence in animal welfare, an essential component of research involving animal models, and by promoting the well-being of staff, thereby creating an ethical and sustainable environment that supports high-quality science and education.