Since the spring of 2018, the European Animal Research Association (EARA) has been assessing the websites of European institutions that carry out biomedical research using animals. The study reveals for example how many institutions carry a recognisable statement on their websites explaining their work, how many institutions carry imagery related to animal research or feature a case study on the animal research they support, fund or conduct. The website study has helped EARA identify areas of good practice on communications and openness and areas where improvement is needed. The results help EARA provide guidance on best practice to all its member organisations.

In the digital world, communicating to the public on the importance of animal research via an institution’s website is an important way of increasing understanding and awareness of the work of the life sciences sector. This openness allows researchers to place animal research, in context, as a necessary part of biomedical research with benefits to both humans and animals. In this workshop, EARA Executive Director, Kirk Leech, will outline how any institution can establish good practice for a long-term communications strategy, including the steps that any institution needs to take to put in place a robust and effective communications website platform on animal research, and also preparing for and handling crisis communications situations.

Many of us have to manage the breeding of one or more lines of genetically modified animals. At first sight it seems easy enough, but the reality is not at all what we think..
To provide the breeding scientist with the tools for appropriate colony management of genetically modified animals we will introduce you to the following points:
1) optimize breeding outcomes by taking into account physiological parameters and husbandry conditions.
2) perform a group size calculation for the required breeding outcome, incorporating the stochastic events involved (Mendel´s laws, fertility and litter size).
3) decide on an optimal strategy calculated over multiple generations.
We will give you an overview of the tools required to come to optimized results. We will perform example calculations with an R package developed by us and you will first-hand experience the consequences of various common breeding strategies in terms of time, surplus animals, and costs.