Animal Welfare & Culture of Care

Animal Welfare & Culture of Care

At MPI-IE we take our responsibility towards animals very seriously and constantly try to adapt husbandry conditions and experimental methods in the interests of excellent research and animal welfare. A shared Culture of Care is the key to this.

Training & further education

The basis for optimal care of the animals is, of course, comprehensive training and qualification of our animal care staff. In-house and IHK-certified training with animal care masters and training officers as well as constant further training measures contribute to this.

The management of the animal facility is in the experienced hands of veterinary surgeons, who ensure that only animal caretakers and experimenters with adequate expertise work with the animals. Everyone working with vertebrates at the Institute has attended a qualifying and officially recognised course. The courses teach the competent handling of the animals and the necessary experimental techniques, as well as comprehensive knowledge ranging from anatomy to hygiene and pain recognition.

Knowledge protects animals 

Knowledge protects animals
 

In line with the principles of Knowledge Protects Animals and Knowledge Ensures High Standards in Research, the Institute and the Animal Welfare Officers have designed two lecture series: The Max Planck Lab Animal Science Lectures (LAS) and the Max Planck Laboratory Animal Science Seminars (VTK). The two seminar series offer researchers and staff working in animal husbandry lectures and further training on important topics in laboratory animal science and animal welfare, e.g.: "Pain recognition in mice" or "Ethics in animal experiments". This ensures continuous training on the latest developments in laboratory animal science and animal welfare.

Current projects to improve animal welfare

We are constantly trying to improve and implement gentler methods in animal husbandry and experimentation, e.g.:

  • Switching to modern inhalation anaesthesia.
  • Refining surgical methods and pain management to reduce post-operative distress
  • Gentle handling of the mice
Tunnels reduce stress in mice
Mice need to be lifted regularly when being moved and used in experiments. New research shows that mice can be handled with low stress using a tube. We are currently evaluating and introducing refined handling methods in our husbandry to optimise animal welfare. more
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