Refinement in the European Union: A Systematic Review
Refining experiments and housing conditions so as to cause the minimum possible pain and distress is one of the three principles (3Rs) on which Directive 2010/63/EU is based. In this systematic review, we aimed to identify and summarize published advances in the refinement protocols made by European...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/23/3263 |
| _version_ | 1797463773455319040 |
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| author | Alina Díez-Solinska Oscar Vegas Garikoitz Azkona |
| author_facet | Alina Díez-Solinska Oscar Vegas Garikoitz Azkona |
| author_sort | Alina Díez-Solinska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Refining experiments and housing conditions so as to cause the minimum possible pain and distress is one of the three principles (3Rs) on which Directive 2010/63/EU is based. In this systematic review, we aimed to identify and summarize published advances in the refinement protocols made by European Union-based research groups from 2011 to 2021, and to determine whether or not said research was supported by European or national grants. We included 48 articles, the majority of which were related to improvements in experimental procedures (37/77.1%) for mice (26/54.2%) and were written by research groups belonging to universities (36/57.1%) and from the United Kingdom (21/33.9%). More than two thirds (35/72.9%) of the studies received financial support, 26 (mostly British) at a national level and 8 at a European level. Our results indicated a clear willingness among the scientific community to improve the welfare of laboratory animals, as although funding was not always available or was not specifically granted for this purpose, studies were published nonetheless. However, in addition to institutional support based on legislation, more financial support is needed. We believe that more progress would have been made in refinement during these years if there had been more specific financial support available at both the national and European Union levels since our data suggest that countries investing in refinement have the greatest productivity in successfully publishing refinements. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:55:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a86cd83e5f1945fab54452c6b13916f3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:55:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-a86cd83e5f1945fab54452c6b13916f32023-11-24T10:24:14ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-11-011223326310.3390/ani12233263Refinement in the European Union: A Systematic ReviewAlina Díez-Solinska0Oscar Vegas1Garikoitz Azkona2Department of Basic Psychological Processes and Their Development, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU), Tolosa Hiribidea, 20018 Donostia, SpainDepartment of Basic Psychological Processes and Their Development, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU), Tolosa Hiribidea, 20018 Donostia, SpainDepartment of Basic Psychological Processes and Their Development, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU), Tolosa Hiribidea, 20018 Donostia, SpainRefining experiments and housing conditions so as to cause the minimum possible pain and distress is one of the three principles (3Rs) on which Directive 2010/63/EU is based. In this systematic review, we aimed to identify and summarize published advances in the refinement protocols made by European Union-based research groups from 2011 to 2021, and to determine whether or not said research was supported by European or national grants. We included 48 articles, the majority of which were related to improvements in experimental procedures (37/77.1%) for mice (26/54.2%) and were written by research groups belonging to universities (36/57.1%) and from the United Kingdom (21/33.9%). More than two thirds (35/72.9%) of the studies received financial support, 26 (mostly British) at a national level and 8 at a European level. Our results indicated a clear willingness among the scientific community to improve the welfare of laboratory animals, as although funding was not always available or was not specifically granted for this purpose, studies were published nonetheless. However, in addition to institutional support based on legislation, more financial support is needed. We believe that more progress would have been made in refinement during these years if there had been more specific financial support available at both the national and European Union levels since our data suggest that countries investing in refinement have the greatest productivity in successfully publishing refinements.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/23/32633Rsrefinementfinancial supportEuropean Union |
| spellingShingle | Alina Díez-Solinska Oscar Vegas Garikoitz Azkona Refinement in the European Union: A Systematic Review Animals 3Rs refinement financial support European Union |
| title | Refinement in the European Union: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | Refinement in the European Union: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Refinement in the European Union: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Refinement in the European Union: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | Refinement in the European Union: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | refinement in the european union a systematic review |
| topic | 3Rs refinement financial support European Union |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/23/3263 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alinadiezsolinska refinementintheeuropeanunionasystematicreview AT oscarvegas refinementintheeuropeanunionasystematicreview AT garikoitzazkona refinementintheeuropeanunionasystematicreview |