Each year, the University of Edinburgh holds a Laboratory Animal Welfare and Alternatives Symposium. This takes its inspiration from the concept of ‘The 3Rs’: Replacement, Reduction and/or Refinement, with the aim of removing animals from laboratories or at the very least ensuring they experience good welfare.
This year’s symposium was held in the College of Medicine
and Veterinary Medicine’s Chancellors building and was a great success. More
than 100 staff and students attended to hear some extremely interesting talks,
ranging from refinements in rodent housing to an enlightening presentation on
where research animal use can be reduced through better scientific
methodologies.
Two poster presenters won awards presented by Prof Nat Waran
of the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare, and Dr Lesley
Penny, Director of Veterinary Scientific services. These represented what the
judges felt were the best (of some really good posters) scientist and
technician contribution to improving animal welfare through replacement,
reduction and or refinement in their daily work.
The staff in Veterinary Scientific services who organised
the symposium were pleased that it was so well attended and want to thank all
those who put in posters for the 3Rs/welfare prizes. This represented a lot of
work and there were some really interesting studies and proposals that will
impact the welfare of animals at a local level and further afield. The mix of
talks was excellent, informative and challenging in equal measures and it was
great to see a mixture of animal unit staff and scientists in the audience
including some very senior academics supporting the event. Roll on 2016!
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