Radboudumc Technology Center Animal research facility

Animal Welfare Body (AWB)

The Animal Welfare Body (AWB) (Instantie voor Dierenwelzijn IvD) helps to ensure a responsible animal experimentation policy within Radboud University and Radboudumc. The AWB acts on behalf of  the Radboud University to oversee legal supervision of the performance of animal experiments and the welfare of laboratory animals, in accordance with the Animal Experimentation Act.

Organizationally, the AWB falls under the Animal Research Facility (CDL). The AWB is composed of animal welfare officers, bio-technicians, and one or more scientists. If necessary, the group is supplemented by a veterinarian, statistician, or other specialists.

Additional information can be found below the contact information.

Contact

Email
instantievoordierenwelzijn@radboudumc.nl
Secretary AWB
Janny Verstegen-Gröning: +31 (0)24 361 35 00
Contact persons
Jeannette Lorteije: +31 (0)24 309 74 95
Miriam Kool: +31 (0)24 309 23 64
Alinde Wallinga: +31 (0)24 304 1059
Anke Schoenmakers: +31 (0)24 309 89 37

Additional information

Any institution that performs experiments on animals, or breeds or supplies animals for experiments, is required by the provisions of the 'Wet op de dierproeven' to set up such a body. We conduct our TASKS primarily for Radboud University and Radboudumc, and also for a few other educational and research institutions.

Optimal welfare for animals 
Our goal is to ensure that the optimal welfare of laboratory animals is an integral part of the structure of the Radboud University and Radboudumc. Of key importance is the optimal use of alternatives and proper and responsible research within the legal frameworks and with extra attention paid to replacement, reduction and refinement (3Rs).

Collaboration at all levels
In order to achieve these goals, we work closely together with researchers, research technicians, animal caretakers, managers and directors of Radboud University and Radboudumc. Together we maintain a ‘culture of care’.

Tasks
The Animal Welfare Body has a large number of tasks that we conduct on behalf of Radboud University and Radboudumc. These tasks are largely prescribed by law in accordance with the provisions of the Experiments on Animals Act. These tasks deal with issues such as animal welfare, alternatives to animal experiments, procedures, registration, supervision and communication with the Central Authority for Scientific Procedures on Animals (CCD). The most important of these tasks include:
Animal welfare and alternatives

• offering advice on animal welfare during acquisition, accommodation, care and utilisation of animals
• offering advice on replacement, reduction and refinement (3Rs)
• providing information about technical and scientific developments
• establishing and testing procedures for monitoring and reporting on animal welfare
• providing information and advice on the rehousing scheme and the appropriate socialisation of the animals

Procedures

• discussing a project proposal with the applicant prior to applying for a project licence from the Central Authority for Scientific Procedures on Animals (CCD)
• consulting with the researcher prior to the conduct of an animal experiment
• working with the researcher to determine whether changes in the project must be submitted to the CCD

Registration and supervision

• collecting registration data on animals and experiments
• monitoring the welfare of laboratory animals
• supervising the registration and evaluation of authorizations, expertise and skills of those working with laboratory animals

Central Authority for Scientific Procedures on Animals (CCD)

• providing information for retrospective evaluation
• reporting cases when a project is conducted differently than specified in the licence
• reviewing the non-technical summary
• all other correspondence with the CCD

And more…

• developing internal policy
• communicating about animal experiments (policy)
• contributing to training and education
• acting as the first point of contact in the event of problems or potential problems pertaining to animal welfare 
• encourage cooperation and collaboration between researchers and animal caretakers
• acting as the first point of contact for inspectors from the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA)

Animal Experiment Committee (DEC)

Radboud University’s Animal Experiment Committee (DierExperimentenCommissie, RUDEC) is an independent committee recognized by the CCD (Central Authority for Scientific Procedures on Animals). DEC determines whether the scientific and/or social significance of an animal experiment outweighs the discomfort that the affected animals will encounter. She advices the CCD, who issues the licenses necessary for performing animal experiments. This (ethical) assessment is carried out according to the legal regulations as stipulated in the Wet op de dierproeven (WOD) and in the Dierproevenbesluit.

DEC consists of experts in animal experiments, alternatives for animal experiments, laboratory animals and their protection, and ethics.

Contact

Email: Dierexperimentencommissie@radboudumc.nl
Phone: +31 (0)24 361 90 75