Responsible research with animals

Why does Radboud University use animal research?

All medicines we have today, both for people and animals, were developed based on knowledge gained from animal research. Animal research makes it possible to study the effects of treatments and interventions on a complete system - the whole body, essentially. Furthermore, animal research helps provide fundamental insights that can then be used for human research. This remains essential as not all research questions can be answered by laboratory research or research with human volunteers. 

The animal research at Radboud University and Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc) is either fundamental research or in the field of (bio-)medical research, and at times both. 

Facts about animal research at Radboud University

• Radboud University and Radboudumc only carry out animal studies if the goals cannot be obtained without animals (such as by using alternatives or patient-derived material)
• These studies are done at a number of facilities at both Radboud University and Radboudumc. Facilities of Radboudumc, include the Animal Research Facility (CDL), the Pre-Clinical Imaging Centre, the farm for large animals, the Mosquito and Fly Labs. Some facilities, such as the Translational Neuroscience Unit, are part of both organizations.
• Our research is based on the three R's: replacement, reduction and refinement
• Animals used in research and teaching are predominantly mice and rats, but also include rabbits, pigs, chickens, sheep, llama and fish, amongst others

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How does Radboud conduct responsible research with animals?

As animals are social creatures who can experience positive and negative motions, this responsibility is not taken lightly, and thus animals are treated with utmost care and respect. 

Researchers, technicians and animal care staff aim to minimize pain and discomfort of the animals they have under their care. The experiments are designed along international ethical guidelines: the three R's. In addition, researchers are required to have the correct license and training before they are allowed to work with animals and they are closely supervised by the local Animal Welfare Body and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).

Each research project will undergo multiple levels of approval, initially the project is reviewed by and discussed with the institutional animal welfare body. After approval by the animal welfare body, the project must obtain a license issued by the Centrale Commissie Dierproeven (CCD), the central authority for scientific procedures on animals. The CCD sends the application to an independent Animal Experiment Committee ('Dierenexperimentencommissie' or DEC in Dutch) for review. Radboud University generally consults DEC Radboud University for this purpose. Upon receiving the committee's advice, the CCD will make a decision regarding the application.

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What are the three R's that form the principles of animal research?

To ensure animal research is conducted responsibly, we adhere to the three R's: replacement, reduction and refinement. During each phase, we consider whether a research question can be answered without laboratory animals (replacing), with fewer animals (reducing) or with a reduced level of distress for the animals (refining). 

This is overseen by the university's Animal Welfare Body (AWB). The AWB has legal supervision of the performance of animal experiments and the welfare of laboratory animals, in accordance with the Dutch Animal Experimentation Act.

Radboud's approach to animal-free innovations

Researchers at Radboud University and Radboudumc continuously consider alternatives to animal research, often referred to as new approach methods (NAMs). Among the animal-free innovations used are organoids, organs on a chip, or computer simulations, which are possible thanks to animal research. We also work directly with humans whenever possible. 

However, while these alternatives are valuable in studying a certain part of a biological process, it is not possible to answer complex biomedical questions entirely through animal-free innovations, as organs interact with other body systems and the environment. 

As a lot of our university's research is in the field of neurobehavioural research, special consideration is taken in this case. Though some neurobehavioural research is done by studying humans, most of this research requires study of both the behavioural outcomes as well as the underlying biological processes. This means these tests are not possible to conduct on humans, which means animal research often remains required to enable breakthroughs. 

Statistics on animal research at Radboud University

• 26 research projects with permits from the Dutch government
• 190 experiments with animals
• A total of 8401 animals were used in this research. These include 5818 mice, 1444 rats, 1009 zebrafish, 35 pigs, 81 sheep, 11 bats and three other fish.

Note: above statistics based on the animal research facility's annual report from 2023, available at Radboudumc. 

Animal handling and welfare

The wellbeing of laboratory animals is an issue of crucial importance. As part of this, our researchers are actively developing larger, more naturalistic housing conditions for our animals. Within our animal unit, we handle all animals with care and avoid stressful handling techniques such as tail pick-ups as much as possible. Instead we use cupping and tubing. We also offer instructional videos for stress-free handling of animals, for example about rat handling and mouse handling.

Additional resources 

• Stichting Informatie Dierproeven (in Dutch)
• Radboudumc's resources on laboratory animal research
• Centrale Commissie Dierproeven (in Dutch)
• European Animal Research Association