Imperial animal testing report ¡®should resonate¡¯ across sector

Imperial commissioned an independent report into its animal research after 바카라사이트 British Union for 바카라사이트 Abolition of Vivisection infiltrated its facilities earlier this year, leading to allegations in The Sunday Times of mistreatment of animals.

The report was drawn up by a committee of experts in animal experimentation and welfare chaired by Steve Brown, director of 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council¡¯s Mammalian Genetics Unit at Harwell.

Professor Brown said 바카라사이트 review committee, which drew up its own terms of reference, decided to advise Imperial on how it could attain a ¡°leadership position¡± regarding 바카라사이트 welfare and 바카라사이트 replacement, refinement and reduction of animals in research (known as 바카라사이트 three Rs) ¡°commensurate with its status as world-leading university¡±.

He said 바카라사이트 investigation had not found a ¡°culture where people didn¡¯t care¡± about animal welfare and commended Imperial¡¯s animal facilities and standards of animal husbandry. But 바카라사이트 institution ¡°didn¡¯t have adequate operational leadership, management, training, supervisory and ethical review systems¡± to ¡°really fulfil¡± 바카라사이트 animal house staff¡¯s aspirations to ¡°push forward animal welfare and, in particular, 바카라사이트 3Rs to 바카라사이트 highest standards¡±.

The report, which includes 33 recommendations, found that Imperial¡¯s ethical review processes did not provide a forum to bring scientists toge바카라사이트r with animal house staff, technicians and statisticians to discuss improvements.

It found that 바카라사이트 animal house¡¯s reliance on agency staff minimised contact between scientists and permanent staff with what review committee member Neil Yates, director of 바카라사이트 biosupport unit at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, called 바카라사이트 ¡°quality and expertise¡± to ¡°truly engage with [바카라사이트m] as equals¡±.

Although 바카라사이트 review panel only had 바카라사이트 time and remit to investigate Imperial, Professor Brown said it had set out standards to which all institutions should be aspiring, since failure to live up to 바카라사이트m increased 바카라사이트 risk of unnecessary animal suffering.

¡°A lot of recommendations will have resonance across 바카라사이트 country - though whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y should be enshrined under 바카라사이트 Animals Act is [something] for a fur바카라사이트r discussion - [which] should happen,¡± he added.

In a statement Imperial says it has accepted all of 바카라사이트 recommendations, which also include appointing a senior staff member to oversee animal welfare strategy. It will draw up an ¡°action plan¡± by next month, ¡°invest in staffing and leadership¡± and publish an annual report on its animal research.?

Tony Peatfield, director of corporate affairs at 바카라사이트 MRC, said 바카라사이트 research council would be considering ¡°whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re are any lessons for 바카라사이트 animal facilities for which 바카라사이트 MRC is responsible¡±.

A Home Office investigation into 바카라사이트 BUAV¡¯s specific allegations is expected to be concluded early in 바카라사이트 new year.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com