Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB)
Underlying the work of the Neurobiological Research Facility (NRF) staff is the Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB). This body meets regularly and has oversight of all proposed projects, including pre-submission grant applications. AWERB's primary roles are to minimise harm and suffering, and to ensure that experimentation produces excellent data.
The AWERB consists of an independent Chairperson, Secretary, Named Training and Competency Officer (NTCO), Named Animal Care and Welfare Officers (NACWOs), Named Information Officer (NIO), Named Veterinary Surgeon (NVS), Delegated Establishment Licence Holder, Project License Holders, Senior Research Scientists, NRF staff and Lay members. In addition, the Establishment Licence Holder and Personal Licence Holders attend as needed.
The SWC also has a 3Rs subcommittee led by researchers who are responsible for promoting ways to minimise use of animals wherever possible, and for encouragement of procedures that provide the best possible conditions for the animals under care.
- Replacement – SWC is committed to ensure animals are used in research when it has been clearly demonstrated that there is no alternative
- Reduction – SWC is committed to ensuring that researchers use the minimum number of animals needed to meet their scientific objectives
- Refinement – SWC is committed to the highest possible standards of animal care and welfare and ensuring that all staff involved in the use of animals are committed to and promote a culture of care
