Reduction of animals used in research |
Our autumn
edition of Focus on the 3Rs is about the reduction of animals used for scientific purposes.
We let several researchers and 3Rs experts share their efforts to reduce and
refine their animal experiments. Some of them also reflect on their use of
retrospective assessments – and we explain its role in animal research within
the EU.
You will
meet the Swedish National Committee member Lars Bräutigam and he talks about the
research with zebrafish at Karolinska Institutet. We also give you some updates
on the 3Rs Center’s ongoing work.
| | | | | Retrospective assessmentIn animal
research within the European Union, experiments using non-human primates and
experiments classified as severe suffering, shall undergo a retrospective
assessment. A retrospective assessment is also done when the project evaluation
states that the experiment should be evaluated, such as when new techniques are
used. The retrospective assessment is done by a competent authority after the
experiment is finished. In Sweden, the competent authority is the Central
Ethics Committee on Animal Experiments (Centrala djurförsöksetiska nämnden,
CDFN). In Sweden, the retrospective assessment is called utvärdering i efterhand.
The
retrospective assessments are meant to look at whether the objectives of the
project were achieved or not. It also contains an assessment of what actual
level of harm the animals have experienced, including the number and species of
animals that were used, and the severity of the procedures. Finally, the
retrospective assessment investigates if the experiment contained any elements
that may contribute to further the implementation of the 3Rs.
Retrospective
assessments can give researchers and project evaluators, information and
inspiration to improve research. For example, if one researcher finds a way to
decrease the severity in an experiment, researchers in the same field can swiftly
change their protocols and decrease the severity for their animals as well. The
same goes for if a researcher finds a way to reduce the number of animals used
or completely replace the experiment. Researchers can do the changes
themselves, and those doing project evaluations can point out the new protocols
to those wanting to perform a similar experiment. Retrospective assessments can
also show if experiments are causing more harm than they are of use. If that is
the case those types of experiments should no longer be done, regardless if
there is an alternative method to use or not.
The
competent authority also has to make sure that the retrospective assessments
are accessible to the public. In Sweden, the Central Ethics Committee publish all
assessments on their website. Centrala djurförsöksetiska nämnden (in Swedish) (cdfn.se)
| | | | | Researchers
and their efforts to reduce
| Researchers
around Sweden are engaged in many projects and other activities to reduce the number of animals
used in research.
We let some of them describe their research and work connected to the 3Rs: | | | | | Lars wants to increase the
knowledge on zebrafish used in research
Lars Bräutigam is an
expert on zebrafish and he runs the core facility at Karolinska Institutet. He works within the field of cancer research and he is also a member of the
Swedish National Committee for the Protection of Animals used for Scientific
Purposes.
Interview with Lars Bräutigam (jordbruksverket.se) | | | | | | The 3Rs work at Lund
University
Lund University is highlighted in our
series of interviews showcasing exemplary 3Rs practices in Swedish
organizations. They emphasize that the 3Rs revolve around three key principles:
culture, quality, and communication.
The 3Rs work at Lund University (jordbruksverket.se) | | | | |
Annual meeting for animal
welfare bodies
| Every year, the Swedish 3Rs Center arranges a
national meeting for all Swedish animal welfare bodies. It is a day for
learning and networking.
This year's
meeting will be held in Stockholm on October 17. During the day, we will focus
on change management and communication. A major part of the program will be about
implementation of stress-reduced handling of mice, with focus on not lifting
them up by the tail. Speakers from the Swedish University of Agricultural
Sciences and AstraZeneca will share research, evidence-based knowledge and their
experiences from implementation and changes in a work place.
The meeting
is aimed at professionals connected to animal welfare bodies in Swedish
laboratories and research sites. Parts of the annual meeting program are also
dedicated for the attendees to network and interact with each another. | | | | | To train large research animals
During a meeting with
Swedish animal welfare bodies that work with larger animals in research last
year, it was brought to our attention that they wish to have more hands-on help
with training of these animals. To train large research animals (jordbruksverket.se) | | | | | Research talks with upper secondary schools
The last week in
September, a Science Festival called Researchers' Week (ForkarFredag) was
celebrated in Sweden and elsewhere in Europe. The Swedish
3Rs Center met students from upper secondary school together with researchers
to talk about the 3Rs. The subjects varied from drug development, risk
assessment, neuro science, research on wild animals and the zebrafish model in
research. Research talks with upper secondary schools (jordbruksverket.se) | | | | | 3Rs over the edge – a summary of the World Congress
In the end of august, the 12th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences was held in Niagara Falls, Canada. During five days, representatives from academia, industry, government and non-profit sectors from all around the world came together under one roof to advance the 3Rs in life sciences. Representatives from the Swedish 3Rs Center and the Swedish National Committee were there to share their work, to network, to learn more and to get further inspiration. The World Congress offered an extensive scientific programme divided into six parallel themes, of which Regulatory acceptance, Global Harmonization and Next-gen education were in focus. The general take home message was that we have to stop focusing on obstacles and move forward step by step in order to change the global animal testing landscape. Overall, the World Congress was a huge success and the participants from Sweden left Niagara Falls with renewed hope and inspiration to advance the 3Rs. | | | | | Annual meeting for animal welfare bodiesThe annual meeting for all Swedish animal welfare bodies will be arranged in Stockholm on October 17. | | | | | | | | | | |
