In the Amsterdam Division for Laboratory Animal Sciences (ADLAS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Amsterdam UMC collaborate on research.
Research aimed at the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of various diseases and the welfare of humans and animals. The primary task of ADLAS is to facilitate research and the optimal care and housing of the animals. All this is done within the framework of Wet op de Dierproeven and according to the 3V method: refinement, replacement and reduction. In addition, we at Vrije Universiteit are committed to the transparancy policy.
Responsible Research
Biological and medical research is carried out using numerous technologies and methods at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Amsterdam UMC. This research includes studies on the functioning of the brain and the immune system and diseases such as cancer or multiple sclerosis. There are still no suitable, successful methods of treatment known for many disorders and, furthermore, some methods work for some people, but not for others. Further research is essential if we, as a society, want to find treatments, or better treatments, for these disorders too.
Besides experiments with cell and artificial tissue culture techniques, big data and computer simulations, animal procedures also have to be used.
Laboratory animals are only used if there are absolutely no alternatives. The need for the research must be clear, interests are weighed up unambiguously, strict statutory requirements are met (see below) and the '3 Rs', standing for replacement, reduction and refinement, are incorporated when animal procedures are set up and applied where possible. An Animal Welfare Body also carries out supervision and provides support.
Strict statutory regulations
A licence must be granted by the Central Authority for Scientific Procedures on Animals (CCD) for every research project involving animal procedures. To this end, the CCD requests advice from a specialised advisory committee, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (DEC). The DEC assesses whether the importance of the research weighs up against the use of laboratory animals and their discomfort.
When weighing up interests, the CCD and the DEC distinguish between scientific and social interests:
- Scientific interests might include how the information collected via the animal procedure in question can contribute to the further growth of significant knowledge.
- Social interests might include the benefits the outcomes of the animal procedures will yield for society. This is the case, for example, if an animal procedure is a step on the way to the development of a new medicine or therapy.More information soon.
3R method
Every animal procedure is implemented in a responsible manner. There are three prevailing criteria for animal procedures, which are known as the ‘3 Rs’:
- Replacement: it is a statutory requirement that a researcher may only use laboratory animals if the answer to the research question cannot be found any other way. Therefore, if there is a choice between an animal procedure or another technique for investigating something, the other technique must be used. This other technique then replaces the animal procedure. ''Finding new techniques - and accelerating that process - is a good way to apply this 'R’.
- Reduction: an animal procedure must always be implemented with as few animals as possible. This can, for example, be achieved by designing a smart, efficient study or by working in such as way as to promote reproducibility.
- Refinement: this means that animal procedures must be set up such that they minimise the discomfort to the laboratory animals concerned. This can be achieved by applying state-of-the-art research techniques: for example, by using a smarter device (such as a scanner) or a method for measuring more with less blood (so that blood samples have to be taken less frequently).
Animal procedures are increasingly being replaced by non-animal methods but a great deal more research is needed. Read here about non-animal innovations at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Amsterdam UMC.
Diligence
The use of the ‘3 Rs’ is one of the ways to ensure that laboratory animals are handled with due care. The moral obligation of meeting the highest possible due diligence requirements is laid down by law. This also applies to the requirements for the housing and care of laboratory animals. VU Amsterdam and Amsterdam UMC have up-to-date animal accommodation, where well-trained personnel care for the laboratory animals and implement the animal procedures. Scientists must follow a special laboratory animal science course before being allowed to implement animal procedures.
There is, moreover, thorough supervision of animal procedures and their implementation. This supervision is carried out internally by the Animal Welfare Body, a team specialised in the field of laboratory animals and animal procedures, which advises researchers on the optimum implementation of their animal procedures. External supervision is exercised by the government. Inspectors regularly visit the laboratory animal accommodation and check whether all the statutory regulations and requirements are met.
