Animal research: a Biochemical Society position statement

The Society has issued several position statements on policy issues relevant to the molecular biosciences. These statements aim to outline the Society’s stance on these important topics and underscore relevant activity and engagement across the community.

We have recently updated our position statement on animal research, an area that remains an important facet of bioscience research and where we collaborate with key sectoral partners. The full statement is shared here.

Animal research plays a vital part in advancing our understanding of the fundamental biology of both humans and animals and has facilitated many major medical breakthroughs. Molecular bioscientists across the discipline utilise animals in their research, and the Biochemical Society supports the use of animals in research when properly regulated and when scientifically acceptable alternatives are not available.

As a strategic partner of the Royal Society of Biology (RSB), we endorse its position on the use of animals in scientific research. This statement outlines both the benefit that comes from using animals in research and the commitment to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research—known as the 3Rs. These involve core principles that scientists must develop new ways to replace animals with alternative models and technologies, minimise the use of animals to as much as is required to achieve the scientific aims of the experiment, and refine methods and approaches to minimise pain, stress, and lasting harm to research animals. We support the work of the National Centre for the 3Rs, an organisation which offers funding, training and resources towards this aim, working both nationally and internationally, towards these objectives.

Via our wholly owned subsidiary Portland Press, we publish papers across the molecular biosciences which describe research involving animals. According to our Editorial Policy, we will only publish research where the experiments with animals comply with both national legislation and local Institutional Review Board regulations, and we have long-standing requirements in place for details on where and how animals were used in the research published in our journals, in accordance with ARRIVE guidelines.

In addition, we are signatories to the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research, where we commit to providing the public with open, accurate and up-to-date communication about animal research and the role we play in it. We join over 100 other UK life science organisations, including many universities, research institutes, companies, and charities, supporting this initiative to provide transparent and clear public communication around animal research.

We also participate in the RSB’s Animal Science Group, a forum for discussion on animal science policy issues made up of a broad spectrum of UK bodies involved in animal research. We foster close links between this group and our Policy Advisory Panel in order to keep abreast of changes in policy and developments in best practice in this area. As a strategic partner and close collaborator of RSB on policy engagement, we support RSB’s wider priority of championing ethical biological innovation in its policy activity.

Orla Lappin is the Content and Communities Manager at the Biochemical Society, and amongst other responsibilities, works with the Policy Advisory Panel to inform and influence policymakers on policy matters of relevance to the molecular biosciences. Email: [email protected].

Wayne Carter is an Associate Professor who leads the Clinical Toxicology Research Group at the University of Nottingham and is a member of the Policy Advisory Panel. Email: [email protected].