Planning for an uncertain horizon: Program and infrastructure strategies for the 3Rs transition

Regulatory mandates to replace, reduce, and refine animal use are reshaping long-range facility planning—even as the science to achieve those goals remains years away. Jeff Schantz examines the gap between where the vivarium industry operates today and the targets policy has set. He shares near- and long-term planning frameworks for operators navigating genuine uncertainty, describes design approaches that embed adaptability into capacity planning, and position digitization investments to serve current operations and future program shifts. He delivers key distinguishing capabilities and strategies for institutions navigating facility planning in the 3Rs transition.