Animal research

The University of Oxford is one of the world’s leading centres for biomedical research. It has consistently been at the forefront of innovative and life-saving science. Oxford researchers today study pressing health problems like cancer, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, muscular dystrophy, autism, depression, and very many more diseases that cause suffering and death.

Research using animals is a small part of the University’s overall programme of biomedical research. The majority of research is carried out using either in-vitro techniques or the study of human beings. However, there is overwhelming scientific consensus worldwide that some animal research is still essential for medical progress.

The University’s policy is to minimise the use of animals in research, consistent with the need to make significant advances on important problems of human health. Where animal research is necessary, the University will provide housing and care that exceeds, wherever possible, legal requirements. The University will also continually pursue techniques that reduce the number of animals involved in research.

Oxford's Biomedical Sciences Building is a new facility in the science area of Oxford University to rehouse animals used in research. The building contains housing areas and rooms for research procedures. The animal care staff and the Veterinary Services team are based there. The building rehouses research animals that were housed in older buildings scattered through the University science area. These older facilities, which are closing, met all the strict Home Office regulations for animal care, but the University wished to exceed those regulations and set a gold standard for animal care.

The sections of this website (see links on left) cover information about research using animals, both in general terms and at Oxford, and the Biomedical Sciences Building.

Fuente: University of Oxford.