The use of animals in scientific research remains a contentious issue. There is growing political pressure in Europe and the USA for the scientific community to transition towards ‘animal free science’. At the same time perhaps more than in any other field of biomedical research, it is currently essential to use animals to understand the functions of the brain, both in basic research and in drug testing. The benefits of the use of animals in research were also evident in the speedy development of the Covid-19 vaccines, revealing that scientific advances are currently not able to replace animal use across all research and therapeutic areas. How should the neuroscience community address these potentially conflicting pressures? This topic will be addressed during this two-hour workshop by scientists who use animals in scientific research, those who use non-animal models and a European advocacy groups, who will provide evidence of how the neuroscience community is seeking to improve communication to the public on the use of animals in research.

Programme:

12:10-12:40 Animal Research: Time to Talk!
Kirk Leech, Executive Director, EARA

12:40-13:10 Response to the European Citizens’ Initiative to Phase Out Animal Experimentation in the EU by the European Brain Council
Prof. Suzanne Dickson, President, European Brain Council

13:10-13:40 A Journey of Animal Neuroscience Research Advocacy in The Netherlands
Prof. Judith Homberg, Radboud University

13:40-14:10 Roundtable Discussion
Prof. Roger Adan, UMC Utrecht Brain Center
Prof. Jose L. Lanciego, Head of the Functional Neuroanatomy Basal Ganglia Lab of the Center for Applied Medical Research, University of Navarra
Prof. Sandra Acosta Verdugo, Universitat de Barcelona

All details available on the IBRO World Congress website: here.