Animal Ethics Advisory Group (AEAG)

OU research with animals is governed by the OU Animal Ethics Advisory Group (AEAG). The University Secretary is the Designated 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. In addition, The Open University is a signatory to the Declaration of Openness on Animal Research which has been initiated by Understanding Animal Research (UAR) to promote transparency in animal research. Information was also posted on the OU intranet site - http://intranet.open.ac.uk/ouintra/story.aspx?id=24493.

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.

Redacted Minutes...available soon

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. To ensure that the Group has all the information it needs to carefully consider your case, please contact the AEAG Secretary for an AEAG proforma. When completing it, please remember that the AEAG includes lay members and non-biologists so responses on your form should be aimed at the layperson.