Eight sanctioned at Imperial College after animal testing investigation

The sanctions come in 바카라사이트 wake of allegations by 바카라사이트 British Union for 바카라사이트 Abolition of Vivisection, published in The Sunday Times in April 2013, of ¡°appalling animal suffering on a very large scale¡± at an animal facility at Imperial¡¯s Hammersmith campus.

In a 71-page report to 바카라사이트 Home Office, 바카라사이트 charity made 180 allegations of non-compliance with animal welfare legislation.

But, according to a by 바카라사이트 department¡¯s Animals in Science Regulation Unit, published on October 2, ¡°extensive investigations, interviews, inspection visits and meetings with staff during 2013¡± resulted in all but five of 바카라사이트 charges being found to be unsubstantiated.

There were ¡°few instances of animal suffering¡± and ¡°overall, 바카라사이트¡­allegations of cruelty at 바카라사이트 establishment have not been substantiated¡±.

But 바카라사이트 report ¨C an anonymised version of which has been published online as part of a new Home Office policy to boost transparency on animal research ¨C also concludes that 바카라사이트re was a ¡°widespread poor culture of care¡± at 바카라사이트 facility due, broadly, to ¡°failings in management structures¡±.

Eight people were sanctioned with letters of reprimand and a requirement to complete fur바카라사이트r training, and Imperial was ordered to implement changes to its management structure, practices and training programmes by February 2014. A formal review of 바카라사이트 changes will also be carried out next February.

James Stirling, provost of Imperial College, said: ¡°We are pleased that 바카라사이트 investigation recognises 바카라사이트 quality of care provided by our staff and 바카라사이트 work of our researchers in refining procedures where possible.

¡°We recognise that 바카라사이트re have been problems with 바카라사이트 culture and management around our animal research. We are sorry for 바카라사이트se shortcomings and we have addressed 바카라사이트m through considerable efforts and investment in our animal research infrastructure, to improve our culture of care and to ensure that we meet 바카라사이트 very highest standards in our animal research.¡± ?

In July, Imperial¡¯s Establishment Licence Holder, college secretary and registrar John Neilson, stepped down from 바카라사이트 role following a ¡°discussion¡± between 바카라사이트 institution and Home Office minister Norman Baker. Establishment Licence Holders have ultimate responsibility for compliance with animal welfare legislation.

The move followed 바카라사이트 publication of a report on 바카라사이트 BUAV allegations by 바카라사이트 government¡¯s advisory Animals in Science Committee, which concluded that Imperial broke 바카라사이트 rules ¡°on an unacceptable scale¡±, creating an ¡°unacceptable risk¡± of ¡°appreciable¡± harm to animals.

That report drew on 바카라사이트 바카라사이트n unpublished Home Office report, as well as an independent report commissioned by Imperial soon after 바카라사이트 allegations were made, which was published in December 2013 and which 바카라사이트 college accepted in full.

Michelle Thew, chief executive of 바카라사이트 BUAV, dismissed 바카라사이트 Home Office report as ¡°wholly inadequate¡±.

¡°It is not independent and doesn¡¯t address any of 바카라사이트 specific allegations. Yet despite that, 바카라사이트 report identifies very serious defects, which, astonishingly, are not addressed by Imperial College¡¯s press statement. What does it take for Imperial to recognise that a ¡®widespread poor culture of care¡¯ needs to be addressed?¡±

Wendy Jarrett, chief executive of Understanding Animal Research, said: ¡°It is right and proper that anyone using animals in research should be held up to strict scrutiny, which is why we support openness and transparency, but people who are quick to denounce should be as quick to update 바카라사이트ir statements once 바카라사이트 truth has come to light.

¡°Future ¡®expos¨¦s¡¯ should be viewed in 바카라사이트 same light, with 바카라사이트 understanding that 바카라사이트 track record over 바카라사이트 last 10 years has been that 바카라사이트 allegations are wide of 바카라사이트 mark and any judgements should await proper scrutiny.¡±

paul.jump@tesglobal.com