Monday, April 9
Auditorium between building 4 and 5
This conference will examine the guiding principles required for the ethical and humane use of animals in research. These principles, first conceived by W. M. S. Russell and R. L. Burch in 1959 (The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique, Methuen, London), are internationally known as the Three Rs (3Rs): the Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of animal experimentation.
Replacement is defined as the methods which enable the avoidance or replacement of animals in research
Reduction is defined as the methods which enable researchers to obtain comparable levels of information from fewer animals, or more information from the same number of animals
Refinement is defined as the methods which enable the alleviation, or the minimization of potential pain, suffering or distress in animals, enhancing their overall welfare.
Minimizing the suffering of animals is the responsibility of every individual involved in every aspect of animal research. In KAUST, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) reviews all research projects involving live vertebra animals and cephalopods; ensuring strict adherence to the 3Rs. Aside from the obvious ethics involved there are compelling, scientific reasons supporting the implementation of the 3Rs. The way animals are housed, handled and used in scientific research can affect their physiology, immunology and general behavior. This can, in turn, affect the validity and reproducibility of any data accrued. Minimizing the impact of the animal’s pain and distress is, therefore, ethically and scientifically crucial.
This one-day conference organized by the KAUST IACUC will provide examples of the practical applications of the 3Rs in rodents and marine animal research. It will examine how these principles are applied in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and will explore existing opportunities for implementing improvements; furthering the 3Rs’ mandate to increase research validity and reproducibility.
A certificate of attendance will be given to all participants on completion of the conference; this certificate will be recognized as continuous education training by the KAUST IACUC.
To view the agenda, click here.
To register for the conference, click here.