In spring 2020, the state of Baden-Württemberg had already established the "3R Center for In Vitro Models and Animal Testing Alternatives" in Tübingen and Reutlingen. These will now be joined with four additional centers: the "3R Center Rhine-Neckar" of the University of Heidelberg with the Central Institute for Mental Health Mannheim, the "3R-US Network" of the University of Stuttgart and the Robert Bosch Hospital, the "CAAT-Europe" (Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing in Europe) of the Constance University with Johns Hopkins University and the "Interdisciplinary Center for Research on Gut Health" at the University of Heidelberg.

The 3R-US network in Stuttgart, for example, will develop a tumor tissue platform as a stepwise replacement for animal testing in cancer research. The cell material comes from patients. A team of researchers led by Prof. Monilola Olayioye of the Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology (IZI) at the University of Stuttgart will use it to explore how signaling networks of oncogenes (tumor growth promoters) and tumor suppressors interact. In the cancer mouse, which is mainly used to study these issues, this communication takes place in a completely different way, so the results are not transferable to humans.

The 3R Network BW also includes other projects, among others from education and training, but also issues related to the refinement of animal experiments.

The entire university network is supported by the state with 3.8 million euros. Approximately 1.6 million euros are still contributed by the universities themselves.

Sources:
https://innovationorigins.com/de/3-d-druck-und-simulationen-als-ersatz-fur-tierversuche/
https://nachrichten.idw-online.de/2021/02/08/landesweites-netzwerk-bringt-tierschutz-und-forschung-voran/?groupcolor=4