Animal Welfare
Many achievements in medicine are based on results previously obtained through animal testing. This applies, for example, to vaccines against numerous infectious diseases and to medicines such as antibiotics, but also to advances in the fields of surgery and medical technology. Despite the widespread use and dynamic development of alternative methods, animal experiments still remain an essential prerequisite for progress in basic medical and biological research and in the development of drugs and safe therapies.
At the same time, scientists are aware that animal research is associated with stress for animals. It is therefore important to ensure both the highest scientific quality and the highest possible ethically acceptable animal welfare standards. The researchers at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) work according to the 3R principles (Replace, Reduce, Refine), which set out strict rules. Specifically, this means that animal experiments may only be carried out if it can be proven that no other suitable methods are available. In addition, the number and stress of the animals used in experiments must be reduced to the necessary minimum.
In this sense, JMU takes animal welfare into account through exemplary animal husbandry, proper training of the people involved, and careful planning and execution of the experiments. The animal welfare officers support the researchers in this by providing advice and carrying out inspections.
Contact us
E-mail : tierschutzbeauftragter@uni-wuerzburg.de
To the animal welfare team
Please address press enquiries to presse@uni-wuerzburg.de
To successfully combat diseases, we need to understand the basic functioning of the human organism. This is essential for the development of new drugs and therapies. Numerous cellular processes in animals function in the same way as in humans, which is why many human diseases also occur in animals.
Animal experiments are indispensable in this context because the highly complex reactions of an organism involving an unknown number of cell types, organs and biological reactions often cannot be fully replicated in the laboratory or in a model.
Only active substances and procedures that have proven themselves in a series of legally prescribed animal studies may ultimately be tested as potential new drugs and therapies in humans.
The following always applies: only after intensive preliminary studies using computer models, cell cultures and tissue samples have successfully identified possible mechanisms or approaches for new forms of therapy and drugs, are the most promising active substances tested on animals.
Approval requirements
Animal experiments may only be carried out with official approval and are subject to constant monitoring by the responsible animal welfare officer at the University of Würzburg, the government of Lower Franconia and the municipal veterinary office.
This means that all scientific projects at the university involving animals require an intensive review and preparation phase, are assessed by an independent ethics committee and are only approved by the authorities after successful review.
3R principle as the legal basis for the approval of research projects
The requirements of the so-called 3R principle (reduction, refinement and replacement), which are enshrined in the Animal Welfare Act and the Animal Welfare Experimental Animal Ordinance, must be sufficiently fulfilled for approval.
Whether the criteria of the 3R principle are met is critically reviewed by the competent state authorities based on the current state of knowledge before they grant approval for animal experiments:
- Replace: The possibility of using alternative methods must be examined and ruled out.
- Reduce: The number of experimental animals must be reduced to the smallest possible number.
- Refine: The stress for the animals involved must be kept to a minimum.
Our researchers must also prove that their scientific question is new and has not yet been tested in animal experiments.
Independent inspections
In addition, the independent animal welfare officer at the University of Würzburg carries out on-site inspections several times a year to ensure compliance with all regulations and requirements when conducting research on animals. The Veterinary Office is also authorized to carry out unannounced site visits and inspections.
The Animal Welfare Act stipulates that animal experiments may only be planned and carried out by persons who have the necessary knowledge and skills. These include specialists in veterinary medicine, human medicine, dentistry and biology who have acquired a special officially recognised additional qualification.
Animal experiments help us to better understand the underlying mechanisms and, based on this, to develop new therapies, for example in studies on tumor diseases, neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis or muscle atrophy, in infection, pain or stroke research, in the development of new implants, in the advancement of stem cell therapy, in cardiovascular diseases, in immunology, in psychiatric diseases and many other areas.
Millions of patients are already benefiting from the findings of modern medicine. The knowledge gained also benefits veterinary medicine.
Many alternative methods already exist. Their further development and testing are funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and the German Research Foundation (DFG).
Research into alternative methods at the JMU
Our scientists are working intensively on developing new alternative and complementary methods. This is partly for ethical reasons, but also for reasons of efficiency. Alternative methods are often more cost-effective and generally less time-consuming than animal experiments.
Many alternative methods are already being used at JMU, such as investigations of cell or tissue cultures, special imaging techniques and computer simulations.
Award for research into alternative methods
The initiative "European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing" (EPAA) honours scientific work that helps to replace, reduce or refine animal testing with the 3R Science Prize.
Literature research and databases
Part of the application process for animal experimentation projects involves conducting a thorough literature review to ensure that the planned animal experiment cannot be replaced by an alternative method and to check whether the knowledge gained from the animal experimentation project can be achieved using methods that reduce the number of animals or are less harmful to them (e.g. in vitro procedures, organ-on-a-chip, etc.).
Examples of databases on alternative and replacement methods:
- EU Reference Laboratory for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EURL ECVAM) - European Commission
The EURL ECVAM promotes and facilitates the use of non-animal methods in experiments and research. - ZEBET - Protection of laboratory animals
Central Office for the Documentation and Evaluation of Alternative and Supplementary Methods to Animal Experiments (ZEBET), based at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment - Replace - Protection of laboratory animals
Bf3R, German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals. Replace: Development of new alternative methods to animal testing - 3R SMART Alternative methods for animal experiments
Information and training platform on alternative and complementary methods to animal experiments
For the keyword search:
- SMAFIRA
SMAFIRA is a free online tool designed to help biomedical researchers and animal welfare advocates search the PubMed© literature database for possible alternatives to animal experiments - NAT-Database (Non-Animal-Technologies) - Animal-free database
The NAT Database contains information on modern animal-free technologies from various fields of biomedicine and life sciences, based on scientific publications and studies. - InterNICHE alternative database | InterNICHE
InterNICHE is an open and extensive network of students, teachers and animal welfare activists. The network focuses on animal use and alternatives in bioscience, medical and veterinary education. - NORINA
NORINA (A Norwegian Inventory of Alternatives) is an English-language database containing information on around 3,000 audiovisual aids that can be used as an alternative or supplement to the use of animals in education and training, including alternatives to dissection. - The 3Rs | NC3Rs
The NC3Rs is a UK-based scientific organisation that works nationally and internationally with the research community to replace, improve and reduce the use of animals in research and testing.
The health, cleanliness and well-being of our animals is of great importance, as this is the only way to obtain high-quality and reliable research results. Our laboratory animals are kept, cared for and fed in accordance with the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act in a manner appropriate to their species and behaviour.
The animal housing areas are only accessible to intensively trained scientific staff after thorough instruction, the nursing staff and the university's animal welfare and safety officers.
Independent inspections
The welfare of the animals and compliance with all regulations and requirements are checked several times a year on site by the independent animal welfare officer of the University of Würzburg. The veterinary office is also authorized to carry out unannounced site inspections.
Section 1 of the German Animal Welfare Act (TierSchG) contains the central principle: ‘No one may cause pain, suffering or harm to an animal without reasonable cause.’ According to Section 7 TierSchG, experiments on vertebrates are only permitted if the expected pain, suffering or harm to the animals is ethically justifiable in relation to the purpose of the experiment.
Our scientists are obliged to carry out interventions only under anaesthesia or with the administration of painkillers if pain is to be expected for the animals. Any exceptions require approval.
Further information
- Talking about animal experiments - Leibniz scientists in video portraits
- Who carries out animal experiments in Germany? Information from the Max Planck Society
- German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) - an institution of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)
- ZEBET – Protection of Laboratory Animals - Central Office for the Documentation and Evaluation of Alternative and Supplementary Methods to Animal Experiments (ZEBET), based at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment
Initiatives at European level:
