Use of laboratory animals in scientific research and education
Ghent University is convinced of the added value animal research has on the development of (concrete) knowledge at the benefit of humans and animals.
However, this belief does not prevent the need for researchers to find ways to, as much as possible, reduce the number of laboratory animals and the suffering and/or distress these animals experience, and eventually, as far as possible, to aim for a research setting without laboratory animals.
Legal framework and policy
- Policy statement Ghent University (as approved by the Board of Governors on 3 January 2017)
- Policy Memorandum Animal Welfare 2014-2019 (Flemish minister Weyts) - in Dutch only
External framework supported by Ghent University
- Belgian Council for Laboratory Animal Science (BCLAS/ASBL)
- European Animal Research Association (EARA)
Guidelines
Ethics committees
- Faculty for Veterinary Medicine
- Faculty for Medicine and Health Sciences
Broader framework: several initiatives
- Federation of Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA)
- Stichting Informatie Dierproeven (SID)
- EURL ECVAM Strategy Papers
- InfoPunt ProefdierOnderzoek
- Studentenvereniging SENSE
- National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement & Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3RS)
- GAIA (Global Action in the Interest of Animals vzw)
- European Citizens' Initiative 'Stop Vivisection'
- Understanding Animal Research
- Nationaal Comité advies dierproevenbeleid (NCad)
Animal research policy in the media and as science communication (in Dutch)
- Dag Allemaal 16 June 2015
- Science Cafe 13 September 2016 (+ visual summary)
- Schamper February 2016
- Schamper Oktober 2016