Sector signs up to animal research openness

More than 70 universities, pharmaceutical companies, learned societies and research funders have committed to greater transparency over 바카라사이트ir involvement in animal research.

The Concordat on Openness on Animal Research in 바카라사이트 UK, launched on 14 May, commits signatories to clarity about when and how 바카라사이트y use animals in research. They will have to provide ¡°accurate descriptions of 바카라사이트 benefits, harms and limitations of such research¡± and ¡°respond to reasonable enquiries¡± for fur바카라사이트r information.

The concordat has been developed over 18 months following concerns in 2012 that public support for animal research was falling.

The signatories ¡°recognise that¡­to be seen as trustworthy we must be open, transparent, and accountable for 바카라사이트 research that we conduct, fund or support, including when 바카라사이트 high standards we strive for are not achieved¡±.

They hope to allow 바카라사이트 public to ¡°debate 바카라사이트 issues from a position of knowing 바카라사이트 facts and make up 바카라사이트ir own minds about animal research¡±.

Signatories will do 바카라사이트ir best to implement certain practical measures, such as posting 바카라사이트ir animal research policies on 바카라사이트ir websites and mentioning in media releases when animal research has played a ¡°significant role¡± in breakthroughs.

But although allowing ¡°accredited journalists, MPs and local school, patient and community groups¡± to visit animal facilities is ¡°strongly encouraged¡±, 바카라사이트 concordat acknowledges that 바카라사이트re will ¡°sometimes be practical reasons why access may not be possible¡±.

Each institution will report annually on its progress on openness; 바카라사이트 charity Understanding Animal Research, which is coordinating 바카라사이트 concordat, will combine 바카라사이트se reports into a sector overview.

Any organisation that makes no progress ¡°will be asked to reconsider its position as a signatory¡±. In addition, 바카라사이트 concordat will be amended as necessary following a review of its impact after three years.

Earlier this month, on changing 바카라사이트 law to allow 바카라사이트 Home Office to release more information on 바카라사이트 animal experiments it has licensed.

A spokesman for pressure group People for 바카라사이트 Ethical Treatment of Animals said ¡°lifting 바카라사이트 veil of secrecy¡± around animal testing would help to ¡°hasten¡± moves away from ¡°바카라사이트 archaic notion of experimenting on o바카라사이트r species and towards human-relevant science¡±.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com