Policy driven changes in animal research practices: mapping researchers’ attitudes towards animal-free innovations using the Netherlands as an example
Abstract Background Reducing the number of animals used in experiments has become a priority for the governments of many countries. For these reductions to occur, animal-free alternatives must be made more available and, crucially, must be embraced by researchers. Methods We conducted an internation...
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doaj-a4e0dbfdea8e4386a3ef4828b1926d332020-11-25T02:01:34ZengBMCResearch Integrity and Peer Review2058-86152019-04-01411910.1186/s41073-019-0067-5Policy driven changes in animal research practices: mapping researchers’ attitudes towards animal-free innovations using the Netherlands as an exampleS. Bressers0H. van den Elzen1C. Gräwe2D. van den Oetelaar3P. H. A. Postma4S. K. Schoustra5Radboud Honours Academy, Radboud UniversityRadboud Honours Academy, Radboud UniversityRadboud Honours Academy, Radboud UniversityRadboud Honours Academy, Radboud UniversityRadboud Honours Academy, Radboud UniversityRadboud Honours Academy, Radboud UniversityAbstract Background Reducing the number of animals used in experiments has become a priority for the governments of many countries. For these reductions to occur, animal-free alternatives must be made more available and, crucially, must be embraced by researchers. Methods We conducted an international online survey for academics in the field of animal science (N = 367) to explore researchers’ attitudes towards the implementation of animal-free innovations. Through this survey, we address three key questions. The first question is whether scientists who use animals in their research consider governmental goals for animal-free innovations achievable and whether they would support such goals. Secondly, responders were asked to rank the importance of ten roadblocks that could hamper the implementation of animal-free innovations. Finally, responders were asked whether they would migrate (either themselves or their research) if increased animal research regulations in their country of residence restricted their research. Results While nearly half (40%) of the responders support governmental goals, the majority (71%) of researchers did not consider such goals achievable in their field within the near future. In terms of roadblocks for implementation of animal-free methods, ~ 80% of the responders considered ‘reliability’ as important, making it the most highly ranked roadblock. However, all other roadblocks were reported by most responders as somewhat important, suggesting that they must also be considered when addressing animal-free innovations. Importantly, a majority reported that they would consider migration to another country in response to a restrictive animal research policy. Thus, governments must consider the risk of researchers migrating to other institutes, states or countries, leading to a ‘brain-drain’ if policies are too strict or suitable animal-free alternatives are not available. Conclusion Our findings suggest that development and implementation of animal-free innovations are hampered by multiple factors. We outline three pillars concerning education, governmental influence and data sharing, the implementation of which may help to overcome these roadblocks to animal-free innovations.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41073-019-0067-5Animal modelsAnimal researchAlternativesAnimal ethicsAnimal-free innovations3Rs |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
S. Bressers H. van den Elzen C. Gräwe D. van den Oetelaar P. H. A. Postma S. K. Schoustra |
spellingShingle |
S. Bressers H. van den Elzen C. Gräwe D. van den Oetelaar P. H. A. Postma S. K. Schoustra Policy driven changes in animal research practices: mapping researchers’ attitudes towards animal-free innovations using the Netherlands as an example Research Integrity and Peer Review Animal models Animal research Alternatives Animal ethics Animal-free innovations 3Rs |
author_facet |
S. Bressers H. van den Elzen C. Gräwe D. van den Oetelaar P. H. A. Postma S. K. Schoustra |
author_sort |
S. Bressers |
title |
Policy driven changes in animal research practices: mapping researchers’ attitudes towards animal-free innovations using the Netherlands as an example |
title_short |
Policy driven changes in animal research practices: mapping researchers’ attitudes towards animal-free innovations using the Netherlands as an example |
title_full |
Policy driven changes in animal research practices: mapping researchers’ attitudes towards animal-free innovations using the Netherlands as an example |
title_fullStr |
Policy driven changes in animal research practices: mapping researchers’ attitudes towards animal-free innovations using the Netherlands as an example |
title_full_unstemmed |
Policy driven changes in animal research practices: mapping researchers’ attitudes towards animal-free innovations using the Netherlands as an example |
title_sort |
policy driven changes in animal research practices: mapping researchers’ attitudes towards animal-free innovations using the netherlands as an example |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Research Integrity and Peer Review |
issn |
2058-8615 |
publishDate |
2019-04-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Reducing the number of animals used in experiments has become a priority for the governments of many countries. For these reductions to occur, animal-free alternatives must be made more available and, crucially, must be embraced by researchers. Methods We conducted an international online survey for academics in the field of animal science (N = 367) to explore researchers’ attitudes towards the implementation of animal-free innovations. Through this survey, we address three key questions. The first question is whether scientists who use animals in their research consider governmental goals for animal-free innovations achievable and whether they would support such goals. Secondly, responders were asked to rank the importance of ten roadblocks that could hamper the implementation of animal-free innovations. Finally, responders were asked whether they would migrate (either themselves or their research) if increased animal research regulations in their country of residence restricted their research. Results While nearly half (40%) of the responders support governmental goals, the majority (71%) of researchers did not consider such goals achievable in their field within the near future. In terms of roadblocks for implementation of animal-free methods, ~ 80% of the responders considered ‘reliability’ as important, making it the most highly ranked roadblock. However, all other roadblocks were reported by most responders as somewhat important, suggesting that they must also be considered when addressing animal-free innovations. Importantly, a majority reported that they would consider migration to another country in response to a restrictive animal research policy. Thus, governments must consider the risk of researchers migrating to other institutes, states or countries, leading to a ‘brain-drain’ if policies are too strict or suitable animal-free alternatives are not available. Conclusion Our findings suggest that development and implementation of animal-free innovations are hampered by multiple factors. We outline three pillars concerning education, governmental influence and data sharing, the implementation of which may help to overcome these roadblocks to animal-free innovations. |
topic |
Animal models Animal research Alternatives Animal ethics Animal-free innovations 3Rs |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41073-019-0067-5 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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