Augsburg awarded seal of approval for communication on experimental animal research

As part of its commitment to transparent and proactive communication about animal experiments and experimental animal research, the University of Augsburg together with Augsburg University Hospital has been awarded a seal of quality approval by “Understanding Animal Experiments,” an initiative of the Alliance of Science Organisations.

With its own website, access to facts and figures, press releases, and a total of twelve guided tours through its research rooms and experimental animal laboratories, which are accessible to journalists and members of the university and university hospital, the Faculty of Medicine provides information about its planned biomedical research, both with and without animals. For its transparent handling of this socially controversial topic, the University of Augsburg and its Faculty of Medicine, along with Augsburg University Hospital, have been awarded a seal of quality approval for exemplary communication of experimental animal research.

The seal of quality approval was awarded by the information initiative “Understanding Animal Experiments,” which is supported by the Alliance of Science Organisations. Together with the German Research Foundation (DFG), it founded the initiative “Transparent Animal Experiments” two years ago. The University of Augsburg and Augsburg University Hospital are among the first 53 signatories of the initiative. In signing the initiative, the University of Augsburg and Augsburg University Hospital affirmed their common commitment to open and transparent communication about experimental animal research even before the animal experimentation facility was established at the Augsburg site.

Transparent science communication

“Transparent and open science communication concerns all disciplines, and we attach especial importance to it when it comes to topics that require explanation. In this respect, the seal of approval for exemplary communication of experimental animal research is confirmation of our commitment. We will continue to pursue this commitment alongside the continual expansion of university medicine,” says president of the University of Augsburg, Prof. Dr Sabine Doering-Manteuffel.

A central goal of the Faculty of Medicine is to promote translational research. This means that researchers conducting fundamental research at the University of Augsburg and at Augsburg University Hospital work together in an interdisciplinary way to bring new scientific findings into clinical application and patient care as quickly as possible. In this context, experimental animal research projects are being planned in connection with major common diseases such as cancer, dementia, diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. However, the vast majority of research projects and laboratories will be dedicated to other scientific methods that do not involve animals.

Quality seal of approval for exemplary communication

How can universities, research institutes, and other organisations provide information about their experiments involving animals? The initiative “Understanding Animal Experiments” shows which institutions are already doing this and increases the visibility of good examples. To this end, it awards research institutions and scientific organisations that show an exemplary commitment to transparent and open communication and dialogue about animal experiments and experimental animal research. The seal of quality approval is also intended to provide an incentive for research institutions and organisations to improve their own communication efforts. It is awarded to a few institutions each year that demonstrate an exemplary communication strategy and its implementation.

The transparent animal experiments initiative

Established on the 1st of July 2021, the initiative aims to provide transparent information on animal experiments, to actively shape public dialogue about research involving animal experiments, and to exchange experiences and publicise activities among members. Members include universities, medical clinics and hospitals, non-university research institutions, research-based companies, as well as professional societies and funding organisations. The initiative’s website lists all signatories, offers examples of successful communication on animal experiments, and provides information to support signatories in implementing the stated goals of the initiative. It also supports various communication activities throughout Germany and Europe.