If we are to maintain public support for animal research, our work must be conducted in an environment of openness and transparency
- Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Vice Chancellor
Opinion polling in 2012 showed that the public wants to know more about what goes on in animal research. Since then the bioscience community has worked together to set out how it will be more open about why and how it uses animals in research. The final Concordat was published yesterday (Weds).
The 72 signatories have undertaken to fulfill the Concordat’s four commitments:
• We will be clear about when, how and why we use animals in research
• We will enhance our communications with the media and the public about our research using animals
• We will be proactive in providing opportunities for the public to find out about research using animals
• We will report on progress annually and share our experiences
Under each of the commitments is a series of actions that signatories can take to fulfil them. These include: identifying spokespeople who will answer questions about an organisation’s use of animals, supporting researchers who would like to talk about their work using animals, and including information on the role that animal research has played in announcements of scientific advances.
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Image: Scientist holding a mouse
Credit: Wellcome Library, London
Reproduced courtesy of the University of Cambridge
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