Obtaining approval for your project

If you want to do carry out teaching or research work using animals. you first need to obtain approval from the OU Animal Ethics Advisory Group. So that the Group has all the information it needs to carefully consider your case, please complete the AEAG Proforma and send it to the Research Ethics mailbox. When completing your form, please remember that the AEAG includes lay members and non-biologists so responses on your form should be aimed at the intelligent non-biologist.

Further information on research using animals

The UK has one of the toughest regulatory systems in the world. Home Office inspectors — who are all qualified vets or medical doctors — have unrestricted access to research facilities. Often, visits are unannounced. Some research involving animal tissue does not need to be licensed but there are strict guidelines from the Home Office on this.

Three separate licences are required from the Home Office before animal research can take place:

• Personal Licence holders are responsible for the welfare of the research animals. Applicants are only granted a personal licence once they are properly trained and have the skills and experience to look after the research animals properly. Initially, work is usually carried out under supervision.

• Project Licences are only issued to researchers who are able to direct a well-justified programme of research work. For each project using animals, researchers must show that the number of animals to be used cannot be reduced, the research methodology cannot be further refined and that there are no suitable non-animal methods which could replace animal use.

• Certificate of Designation
  The Certificate holder is responsible for ensuring that the fabric and staffing of the places designated for animal research are properly maintained. The Certificate holder must take all reasonable steps to prevent unauthorised procedures from being carried out and is responsible for making sure that everyone working with research animals has adequate training.

The University Secretary is the Certificate holder and the Animal Ethics Advisory Group exists to advise him in these duties.

The Open University Department of Life Sciences has worked with the Animal Ethics Advisory Group (AEAG) to publish its Animal Use Statement.

To begin to find out more about research using animals and the strict controls in place to ensure animal welfare, visit some of the useful links. For more information about the Open University guidelines on ethics related to research involving animals (non-human), please contact the AEAG Secretary.

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