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 and Rachel Rubino examine the gap between where the vivarium industry operates today and the targets policy has set. They share near- and long-term planning frameworks for operators navigating genuine uncertainty, describe design approaches that embed adaptability into capacity planning, and position digitization investments to serve current operations and future program shifts. They deliver key distinguishing capabilities and strategies for institutions navigating facility planning in the 3Rs transition.