Animals in research and teaching at the University

Research and teaching involving animals forms a small yet vital part of our work. This work spans a diverse range of fields, including research to better understand the human body and develop treatments for disorders and diseases, studies to improve animal welfare in veterinary and agricultural settings, fieldwork to support conservation of our wildlife and natural environment, and development of methods to improve animal management and production. 

The work carried out at the University ultimately helps us to improve and enrich the lives of both humans and animals, and to better protect our environment and communities.

Animals are used in research and training activities only when there are no satisfactory or reasonable non-animal alternatives available, or when their use is mandated (e.g. pre-clinical trials of new human medicines). When animals are used, this is conducted in accordance with the Animal Research Act 1985 and the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes. In accordance with the legislation, all animal research and teaching projects must be approved by an Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) before they commence. This requirement applies to all vertebrate species (mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians) and cephalopods (octopus, squid, cuttlefish). 

The University of Sydney has two AECs. As required by the legislation, our AECs are made up of veterinarians, scientists and teachers from the University’s academic community, members of animal welfare organisations, and community representatives. The AECs review all proposals under rigorous ethical guidelines, and they must be satisfied that the proposed research or teaching shows due respect and care for the animals involved. The AECs must also ensure that the principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (the 3Rs) are applied, that the proposal has strong merit and is scientifically sound, and that animal use is justified by the benefits of the research or teaching.

Animal Ethics Committee Terms of Reference (pdf, 102KB).

Respect for animals and their welfare, and recognition that animals are sentient beings, underpins all our activities involving animals. To support this, University staff and students working with animals have round-the-clock access to veterinary support through our dedicated Animal Welfare Veterinarians. Staff and students must also complete mandatory training before commencing their research or teaching with animals. 

The wellbeing of animals in our research and teaching facilities is ensured by a highly skilled and committed team of animal care staff, who work closely with the AEC and Animal Welfare Veterinarians to carefully monitor animal care and use.

We also have a rehoming program in place and wherever we can, we rehome animals at the conclusion of their involvement in research or teaching.

The principles of the 3Rs - Replacement, Reduction, Refinement, are fundamental in animal research and teaching, and applied at all stages of animal care and use.

• Replacement – methods which avoid or replace the use of animals.
  Examples: tissue or cell culture, organoids, computational modelling, 3D printed models, some invertebrate species, human volunteers, artificial models and simulations for clinical skills training
  
  
• Reduction – methods which optimise the number of animals used per experiment.
  Examples: sharing data and tissues, performing a power analysis to calculate the minimum number of animals required to achieve project aims and maintain good statistical design
  
  
• Refinement – methods which minimise animal pain or distress and improve wellbeing.
  Examples: appropriate anaesthesia and analgesia, post-procedure supportive measures, species-appropriate housing, environmental enrichment and keeping animals in social groups.

Below are some of the ways the University of Sydney supports our research and teaching community to champion the 3Rs.
 

• The University of Sydney was a sponsor and contributor to the CSIRO collaboration with government, research and industry partners to develop the Non-animal models: A strategy for maturing Australia’s medical product development capabilities report which assesses the potential of emerging non-animal models to complement or replace traditional animal models over the next 15 years. The University is proud to share the results of this collaboration with CSIRO. Read the full report.
• Each year, we offer a $4,000 award to a researcher or student at the University who has made a substantial contribution towards the replacement, reduction or refinement of the use of animals in research and teaching.

At the University of Sydney, we are committed to transparency and openness about our animal research and teaching activities. We believe that this is key to fostering greater trust and understanding with our community about the use of animals in research and teaching. We recognise the important role of animals in our research and teaching activities, and the benefits these activities bring to wider society.  

The University is a signatory of the Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in Australia, a voluntary pledge developed by the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) for greater transparency around animal research and teaching.

The University is also a member of Understanding Animal Research Oceania, an organisation that is assisting us to develop our skills in being more open about our use of animals in research and teaching.

• New therapy shows promise for a rare childhood dementia 
• Research explores how a father's diet could shape the health of his offspring 
• Detecting the plant species impacting the health of rainbow lorikeets 
• Single test picks up all strains of deadly fish virus that threatens barramundi 
• New technique substantially reduces mouse damage to crops even during plagues 
• Device that can remotely monitor your breathing: as tested on cane toads 
• Cowmoonication: creating a cow dictionary 

For inquiries about the use of animals in research and teaching at the University,
please contact:

animal.ethics@sydney.edu.au

Level 3, Michael Spence Building (F23)
University of Sydney NSW 2006