University becomes official signatory to a national openness agreement
The University of Newcastle is proud to be among the first cohort of signatories to the Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in Australia.
“This agreement is a positive step forward in helping research institutions enhance public understanding of how, when and why animals are involved in research or teaching and the benefits this can deliver,” said Professor Zee Upton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation.
The University of Newcastle has a long history of delivering biomedical and biological research, some of which may involve animals.
“We know this can be a challenging subject,” Professor Upton said. “We also know this type of research is helping scientists around the world develop better treatments for cancer, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, drug addiction, lung disease, HIV, malaria and countless other serious medical conditions.
“We are firmly committed to the ethical treatment of animals involved in research and teaching. We also ensure approved studies have merit and are conducted with integrity and scientific rigour.”
Any University of Newcastle study that involves animals must be approved by the institution’s independent Animal Care and Ethics Committee. This applies to laboratory-based studies as well as conservation research aimed at protecting endangered native species.
Researchers must abide by a strict legislative framework and ensure their research meets the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes.
The University’s Animal Care and Ethics Committee also works with research teams to ensure they have applied the three Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) in their research proposals and as their research progresses.
“While the University already has measures in place that outline how and why we involve animals in research, we will progressively enhance this over time in line with the national Openness Agreement,” Professor Upton added.
The community can learn more about the University’s approach to involving animals in research on our website.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.