When we talk about how to go about replacing animal research, our focus is usually on the scientists at the heart of it. They decide what research to undertake and how to go about it, and so are the beating heart of the business of research. But a heart doesn’t function in isolation, and animal research involves a whole swathe of people in supporting roles.

What does replacement mean for them? 

Animal care and welfare

So, who are the people I’m talking about? Well, for a start, in the legislation, there are various named roles defined.

These are the:

• Named Information Officer
• Named Veterinary Surgeon
• Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer

They have roles set out to ensure the welfare of the animals being used and support with the 3Rs (most often refinement techniques to improve experiments in ways that support higher welfare for the animals). In addition, there will be a team of specialist support staff, such as Animal Technicians, Animal Technologists, and Facility Managers, whose job it is to provide daily care for laboratory animals.

Making oneself redundant

We have always had good support from animal technicians and support staff, which some people find surprising.

“Surely if you’re successful, they’ll be redundant??” – Well, yes.

But also, pretty much every person who goes into the animal care profession does so because they love animals and they want a job where they get to work with animals every day. Providing that care, support, and yes, love, for animals that will ultimately be harmed or die, even when you believe that that is for the greater good in terms of advancements in medical science, is incredibly difficult.

We know that there is a huge mental health burden on animal technicians who can often suffer depression, anxiety, insomnia and other difficulties as a result. That’s why it’s so important that institutions have a good Culture of Care.

Institutional responsibility

But institutional responsibility to animal care staff goes beyond simply providing mental health or whistleblowing support. As NAMs technologies advance, more and more scientists are using in vivo and in vitro or other methods together as part of their programme of work.

There is a growing need for support in searching for information on alternatives, as well as expertise in implementing new methods. Animal care staff and named persons are in a perfect position to be developed to support a range of methods in this emerging and complex landscape. As replacement gathers pace around the world and in the UK, we look forward to the government’s phase-out strategy.

I would argue that there is a responsibility for establishments, as part of their 3Rs strategy, to be investing in training and upskilling animal care staff to both strengthen the institution’s research and also to support those individuals to be prepared for the changing needs of future research.

Action as therapy

In the meantime, we continue to attract support from laboratory animal care staff who love the animals they work with but hate what happens to them.

As our current Chair of Trustees and Named Veterinary Surgeon, Anja Petrie, succinctly puts it

“I care about the welfare of all animals and the best welfare for laboratory animals is not to be used in research. Replacement is everyone’s business”.

I couldn’t agree more. What do you think?

Want to know more? Read an animal technician’s perspective on replacement.