Instantie voor Dierenwelzijn Utrecht/Animal Welfare Body Utrecht
The Animal Welfare Body Utrecht is an authority of Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht. We advise and monitor animal experimentation and the 3Rs: replacement, reduction and refinement. Our tasks, largely based on the Animal Experiments Act, relate to animal welfare, alternatives, procedures, registration, supervision and communication with government agencies.
Advisory tasks
The organisation and its staff advise on and make recommendations about:
• The use of animals in research and education and the ethical considerations involved
• animal welfare: acquisition, accommodation, caring for and properly using animals
• 3Rs methods and the transition towards animal-free innovation
• socialising and rehoming laboratory animals
• designing, conducting and reporting animal experiments: setup, statistics, preregistration, scientific quality, publication
Procedural support
Support with procedures, from idea to execution:
• working with applicants to align their project proposals with legislation and guidelines before submission
• consulting with researchers about conducting their experiments
• supporting researchers with changes in procedures
• establishing and monitoring compliance with procedures regarding animal welfare
Oversight
• We are the legal Animal Welfare Body for UU, UMC Utrecht and several smaller organisations that have a license to perform animal experiments. For these organisations, we oversee: laboratory animal welfare
• quality of research
• qualifications and competences of employees
Contact with government agencies
Acting as an intermediary and exchanging information with government agencies (CCD, NVWA, NCad) in:
• reviewing project licence applications
• reviewing non-technical summaries
• registering animal experiments
• retrospective evaluation
• modifications
• exemptions for permanent and guest researchers
More…
• stimulating and promoting a ‘culture of care’
• developing internal policy
• helping with initial and continuing education/training
• contributing to external policy and encouraging and influencing it
• connecting researchers, animal technicians and caretakers
• improving and respecting employee competences
• describing and monitoring responsibilities
• safeguarding a safe culture, acting as confidential adviser
• monitoring, implementing and facilitating developments
• communicating about animal experiments and policy on animal experiments
• encouraging openness and transparency
Let’s connect!
General InquiriesPascalle van Looinfo.ivd@uu.nl030-2531569
Visiting address:Bolognalaan 503584 CJ UtrechtFacility features:
• Research and education: If you want to conduct research or teach using animals, you must register with the Animal Welfare Body and then complete a number of steps.
• The 3Rs and NAMs: To reduce the use of laboratory animals in research and education, we promote the 3Rs of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement.
• Culture of Care: We strive for a culture of caring for both people and animals, with attention to your own well-being and that of the animal.
• Lifelong Learning: If you are involved in research and education involving animals, you must be and remain qualified, knowledgeable and competent.
• Policies on animal experiments: We have established policies for, among other things, the design of animal experiments and the care and housing of animals.
• Adoption: Would you like to adopt? We regularly offer rats, mice and sometimes other former laboratory animals for adoption.