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www.rspca.org.uksciencegroupresearchanimals18Sciencegroupreviewof2012EndingseveresufferingThelevelofpainordistressexperiencedbyanimalsusedinexperimentsdependsonthenatureoftheresearchandisclassifiedasmildmoderateorsevereunderUKlaw.AnylevelofsufferingisaconcernfortheRSPCAbutendingseveresufferingisatoppriority.Theannualgovernmentstatisticsontheuseofanimalsinresearchandtestinglistthenumberofprojectsthathavebeenlicensedineachoftheseverityclassificationseachyearbutthisisaprospectiveestimateofsufferingthatdoesnotindicatehowmuchsufferinganimalsactuallyexperiencedinpractice.HoweverasaresultoftheUKtransposingEuropeanDirective201063therewillbeanewrequirementforscientiststoassessandreporttheactualseverityexperiencedbyeachanimal.Thismeansthatofficialstatisticsontheactuallevelsofpainsufferinganddistressexperiencedbyanimalsinresearchwillbeavailablefrom20151.Thiswillallowustomonitorthenumbersineachcategoryincludingsevere.TheRSPCAbelievesthatendingseveresufferingisalegitimatedesirableandachievablegoalandthattherevisedUKlegislationcanprovideausefuldriverinkeepingwiththespiritoftheEuropeanDirectivewhichrequirespainsufferingdistressandlastingharmtobeminimised.Howeverthelegislationmustbeaccompaniedbyclearguidanceoneffectivemonitoringoflaboratoryanimalsincludingproperassessmentameliorationandclassificationofanysufferingtheyexperience.RegardlessofthechangestotheUKlawthereisanongoingandwidely-recognisedneedforinformationandimmediateactiononthisissueandwehavesetupanumberofinitiativestodevelopandpromotewaysofavoidingorreducingseveresuffering.Weaimtoidentifylthekindsofproceduresthatcancauseseveresufferinglthefactorsthatcombinetomakethelevelofsufferingseveresuchaspainanxietyorlonglastingprocedureslthepurposeofsevereproceduresforexamplevaccinetestingorstudiesofpainfulorstressingdisorderslanyperceivedobstaclestoreducingsufferingoravoidingtheseproceduresandmostimportantlylwhatcanbedonetoovercometheseobstacles.TheRSPCAhasbeenworkingcloselywiththescientificcommunitytoresearchthisinformationandtodevelopstrategiesandresourcestohelpreducesuffering.Theseincludethedevelopmentoftrainingresourcesforresearchersanimaltechnologistsandcarestafftohelpensurethatsufferingisdetectedrecordedandrelievedmoreeffectively.TheRSPCAisalsoencouraginginformationonrefinementapproachesandmethodologiesthatcouldavoidorreduceseveresufferingtobeincludedinscientificpublications.Thisisacontinuationofongoingworkwhichincludesinfluencingscientificjournaleditorialpoliciesliaisonwithlearnedsocietiesandotherprofessionalbodiesaswellaspromotingtheprincipledirectlywithresearchersatmeetingsandresearchestablishments.TheRSPCAalsoestablishedanexpertworkinggrouptodeveloprefinementsforsevereproceduresinordertoreducesufferingandimprovewelfare.Thegroupcompletedtwopapersin2012whichfocusedonanimalstudiesofepilepsyandmultiplesclerosisthesehavebeensubmittedforpublicationinpeer-reviewedjournalswhichwillenablemoreeffectivedissemination.Furtherworkinggroupswillbesetupin2013toaddressothersevereproceduresandproduceguidanceonrefiningandavoidingthese.Robustlocalethicalreviewatresearchandtestingfacilitiescanalsoplayavitalroleinreducingseveresuffering.TheRSPCAisencouragingAnimalWelfareandEthicalReviewBodiesAWERBsknownasLocalEthicalReviewProcessesERPsuntil31December2012tofocusonendingsevereproceduresattheirestablishmentsincludingbyactivelyvisitingestablishmentsandpresentingonthesubject.Weinitiatedanoutreachprojectandwereinvitedtovisitandspeakatarangeofestablishmentsthroughout2012.Thishasgeneratedagreatdealofdiscussionandsupportfortheprincipleofendingseveresufferingwhichwillbefurtherfacilitatedin2013byproducingmaterialsforAnimalWelfareandEthicalReviewBodiessettingouthowtheycouldapproachrefiningandavoidingproceduresthatcancauseseveresuffering.REFERENCE1Basedondatatobecollectedduring2014.Provisionofadviceonethicsanimalwelfarethe3RsandlegislationinternationallyisanincreasinglyimportantrolefortheRSPCAresearchanimalsdepartmentworkingcloselywiththeRSPCAsinternationalteam.Issuesrelatingtotheuseofanimalsinresearchandtestingneedtobeconsideredinaglobalcontext.Industriesthatuseanimalswhetherpharmaceuticalorchemicalaremultinationalandtheregulatorytestingrequirementstheyworktoareinternational.Scientistsinacademiaalsocommonlycollaborateonaninternationalbasis.Howeverthelegislativecontrolsonanimalexperimentsindifferentcountriesandparticularlytheprioritygiventoanimalwelfareandethicalreviewvariessignificantly.Thisisaseriousconcern.Keyactivitiesandeventsduring2012lInMarchtheRSPCAorganisedanddeliveredtrainingworkshopsinTaiwanforrepresentativesfromresearchestablishmentsusinganimals.TheeventswereorganisedinassociationwiththeChinese-TaipeiSocietyofLaboratoryAnimalSciencesandcoveredtopicsrelatingtoanimalwelfareandhowthe3Rscanbeeffectivelyimplementedinpractice.Theworkshopswerewellattendedandenthusiasticallyreceivedbythedelegates.lInSeptembertheRSPCAwasinvitedtogiveaplenarypresentationandrunaworkshopsessiononreducinglaboratoryanimalsufferingandimprovingwelfareattheannualconferenceoftheChineseAssociationforLaboratoryAnimalSciences.Deliveringinternationaltrainingistockphoto.comGlobalPdra_schwartz