Laboratory animal science for writers
Knowledge of laboratory animals, their care, experimental procedures and the rules governing their use helps medical writers report animal research and explain it to the public.
Training and the 3Rs
Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes requires adequate training for everyone involved in animal experimentation, with competencies specific to designing experiments, performing procedures, caring for animals or humanely killing them. Online resources can provide the theoretical part of that training.
The directive embeds the 3Rs, first published by William Russell and Rex Burch in 1959.
- Replacement: methods that avoid or replace animal use.
- Reduction: methods that minimise the number of animals used per experiment.
- Refinement: methods that minimise suffering and improve animal welfare.
Virtual material cannot fully replace animals in training, but a video can be watched repeatedly while the animal shown was handled only once. Students well prepared in theory are more likely to be confident during practical training, reducing animal stress and improving experimental results. Knowledge and skills underpin high-quality animal welfare regardless of the research field.
Medical writers are typically not involved in practical procedures but are likely to prepare study reports or publications. Learning about laboratory species, regulations and procedures can improve that work and communication and cooperation with investigators, with particular benefits for animal welfare.
Training resources
In 2024 LAS-interactive.de combined LAS campus, a fee-based platform providing proof of mandatory training, and vtk online, an information platform free after registration. The latter originated at Philipps University of Marburg under a German federal programme for animal-replacement methods and expanded with German Research Foundation funding, offering information in German, English and French. Its resources were intended for researchers, students, competent authorities and technical staff in universities, research facilities and industry, as well as medical writers.
FELASA, the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations, also offered animal-welfare courses. The 3R SMART platform provided information and training on methods to replace and supplement animal experiments for lay audiences, scientists and technical personnel. It was financed by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and developed with the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover and Philipps University of Marburg.
Videos and learning modules
Registration gave access to the vtk online platform. Its media centre included videos on handling, blood sampling and substance administration, an image gallery of laboratory-species anatomy, material on alternative methods and interactive information on eligibility to work with laboratory animals under German and EU law.
The self-learning modules followed EU training recommendations, with core, function-specific, task-specific and additional modules. Core content included national legislation, ethics, animal welfare and management, pain recognition and euthanasia. The April 2024 module display included the following content.
| Core modules | Function-specific modules | Task-specific modules | Additional modules |
|---|---|---|---|
| C01 Animal welfare law: introduction to legislation | F07 Methods without anaesthesia: minimally invasive methods and their implementation | T20 Anaesthesia and analgesia I: minor procedures | A01 History: historical context of animal experiments |
| C02 Ethics and 3R: basic ethical principles and the 3Rs | F09 Ethics and 3R Level 2: ethical questions and alternative and supplementary methods | T21 Anaesthesia and analgesia II: surgical or lengthy procedures, advanced level | A02 Blood sampling methods: procedures sometimes requiring anaesthesia |
| C03 Laboratory animal biology: general and species-specific biology | F10 Design of procedures and projects: approach, database searching and biometric study planning for applications | T22 Surgical interventions: basic approaches to surgery | A03 Genetically modified animals: introduction |
| C04 Laboratory animal housing: general and species-specific husbandry | A04 Telemetry: collecting telemetric data in animal experiments |
Species data and quizzes
The LASed compendium and speed-learning section required no registration in 2024. LASed allowed comparison of common laboratory species' physiology, including weight, heart and respiratory rates; blood parameters, including volume, haematology and clinical chemistry; reproduction, including litter size, weaning age and sexual maturity; breeding; and legal husbandry requirements. Speed-learning quizzes covered mouse histology, with different anatomical areas, magnifications and adjustable difficulty.
Public discussion of animal research
By 2019 a growing number of research institutes were responding to controversy over animal experimentation through open public dialogue. A veterinarian working in laboratory animal science held that animals would remain necessary for research and that lack of information contributed to controversy, which animal-rights activists had used to encourage concern and rejection.
In the UK, institutes could sign the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research to commit to transparent communication, and increasing numbers of European facilities were following the example. A clear website statement of an institute's commitment to animal experimentation can be a first step towards transparency, while open days let scientists answer public questions and explain research face to face.
Visitors to open days may bring scepticism, curiosity, prejudice and justified criticism. Discussing the necessity, advantages and limitations of animal studies requires facts and clear, reasonable information that translates science for a lay audience. Such emotionally charged discussions can sharpen a medical communicator's skills.