Animal welfare

In order 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. Many cell processes in animals function in exactly the same way as in humans, which is why many human diseases also occur in animals.

Animal experiments are essential because the highly complex reactions of an organism with an unknown number of cell types, organs and biological reactions involved often cannot be fully simulated in the laboratory or model.

Only active substances and procedures that have proven themselves in a series of legally prescribed tests in animals may ultimately be trialled as potential new drugs and therapies in humans.

The following always applies: only after possible mechanisms or approaches for new forms of therapy and drugs have been successfully identified in intensive preliminary investigations on the computer model and using cell cultures and tissue samples are the most promising active substances also tested on animals.

Authorisation requirement

Animal experiments may only be carried out with official authorisation 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 testing and preparation phase, are assessed by an independent ethics committee and are only authorised by the authorities following a successful review.

3R principle as the legal basis for the authorisation 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 authorisation. Whether the criteria of the 3R principle are met is critically reviewed by the competent state authorities on the basis of the current state of knowledge before they grant authorisation for animal experiments:

• Replace: The possibility of using alternative methods must be examined and ruled out.
• Reduce: The number of test animals must be reduced to the lowest possible level.
• Refine: The stress for the animals involved must be kept as low as possible.

Our researchers must also prove that their scientific question is new and has not yet been tested on animals.

Independent controls

In addition, the neutral 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 authorised to carry out unannounced site inspections and checks.

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 develop new therapies based on them, for example in studies on tumour 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, for the further development of stem cell therapy, in cardiovascular diseases, in immunology, in psychiatric diseases and many other areas.

A large number of alternative methods already exist. Their further development and testing is 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. On the one hand for ethical reasons, but also for reasons of efficiency. Alternative methods are often cheaper and generally less time-consuming than animal experiments.

At JMU, many alternative methods are already being used, such as investigations of cell or tissue cultures or special imaging procedures 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 improve animal testing with the 3R Science Prize.

Literature research and databases

Part of the application process for animal experimentation projects is a thorough literature search to ensure that the planned animal experiment cannot be replaced by an alternative method or to check whether the knowledge gained from the animal experimentation project can be achieved with methods that reduce the number of animals or are gentler (e.g. in vitro methods, 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 Centre for the Registration and Evaluation of Alternative and Complementary 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 rights activists search the PubMed© literature database for possible alternative methods to animal experiments
  
• NAT-Database (Non-Animal-Technologies) - Animal-free database
  The NAT-Database contains information on modern animal-free technologies from various areas of biomedicine and biosciences, based on scientific publications and studies.
  
• InterNICHE alternative database | InterNICHE
  InterNICHE is an open and far-reaching network of students, teachers and animal rights activists. The network focuses on animal use and alternatives within bioscience, medical and veterinary education.
  
• NORINA
  NORINA (A Norwegian Inventory of Alternatives) is an English-language database with 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 dissection alternatives.
  
• 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.

We attach great importance to the health, cleanliness and well-being of our animals, as this is the only way we can 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 and 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 controls

The welfare of the animals and compliance with all regulations and requirements is checked several times a year by the neutral animal welfare officer of the University of Würzburg on site. The veterinary office is also authorised to carry out an unannounced site inspection.

Section 1 of the German Animal Welfare Act (TierSchG) contains the central principle: "No one may inflict pain, suffering or harm on an animal without reasonable cause." According to §7 TierSchG, experiments on vertebrates are only permitted if the expected pain, suffering or harm to the animals is ethically justifiable with regard to the purpose of the experiment.

Our scientists are obliged to carry out studies only under anaesthesia or with the administration of painkillers if pain is to be expected for the animals. An exception is subject to authorisation.

Alternative methods are primarily used in university teaching. In individual courses in physiology, anatomy and developmental biology, experiments on animals are currently still part of the curriculum.