Because the use of animals in scientific research creates moral obligations, the UvA observes a number of strict general principles based on the so-called 3 Rs: replace, reduce and refine.

Our general principles

• Opt for alternative, non-animal research methods if possible;
• If there are no alternatives, use as few animals as possible;
• Animals must be given the best care possible and experience as little suffering as possible.

Indispensable

At Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS) we conduct biomedical and neurobiological research. We do this to gain a better understanding of diseases and thus develop better treatments, or possibly even prevent diseases. We use numerous methods for this research, such as computer simulations, advanced imaging techniques and research with human brain tissue or cultured cells, tissues or mini-organs (‘organoids’). However, research with living animals is still indispensable.

This applies, for example, to some of the research concerning the brain, the immune system or cancer. These are such complex systems, with so many interactions with other organs and parts of the living organism, that we cannot (yet) model them in their entirety on computers. We also cannot yet sufficiently imitate them in culture dishes in the laboratory. Therefore, and only when there is no other option, laboratory animals are used for certain questions under strict conditions and measures.

Measures

• Anyone who works with laboratory animals at the university must have undergone thorough training, preparation and assessment;
• All research is subject to an external review by an Animal Ethics Committee (DEC), which weighs up whether the importance of the research outweighs the suffering caused to animals;
• All research is supervised and monitored by an animal welfare body;
• Animal procedures are not possible without a licence from the Central Authority for Scientific Procedures (CCD), as set out in the Dutch Experiments on Animals Act;
• Licences are only granted if there are no other research methods that could be used to answer the scientific question at hand and if the usefulness and necessity of the research sufficiently outweigh the suffering of the animal.

Transparency

Like the rest of the UvA, we at SILS endorse the importance of open communication about our research with animals.

Laboratory animals

At SILS, the laboratory animals we work with are mice and rats. As described in more detail above, this only happens after extensive vetting, thorough training of the staff involved and with supervision on animal welfare.

The numbers can be found here. This number includes the animals that are bred but not used in experiments.

3R efforts

Some examples of recent innovations that further demonstrate how we at SILS are working on replacing, reducing, and refining (the 3Rs) animal testing:

•  Researchers within the Jacobs Lab study the evolution of the human brain and, related to this, the complex genetics of diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Traditionally, it was only possible to study complex structures such as the brain in the lab to a limited extent using cultures of single cells. This necessitated the use of animal research. Nowadays, this animal research has in part been replaced thanks to the development of cultured 3-dimensional cell models (so-called 'mini-brains').

• In the Gut-Microbiome Interaction Lab, the influence of the microbiome within our intestines on our health is studied. Here, laboratory animals are now being replaced by studying some of the questions with so-called 'gut-on-a-chip' technology (3-dimensional mini-intestines including bacteria and their environment).

• The Institute for Chemical Neuroscience has received a Gravitational Grant from the Dutch government to develop a ‘brain atlas’ of psychiatric symptoms. Thanks to a unique collaboration with the Netherlands Brain Bank, research will be conducted using human brain tissue, which is an important, animal-free addition to many neurobiological questions and research into human brain diseases.

Contact

The contact person for questions about animal research at SILS is Carlos Fitzsimons, c.p.fitzsimons@uva.nl.