Raising awareness about animal research

06 Apr 2017

On Wednesday 29 March, 33 Year 12 pupils from Manchester and nearby boroughs visited The University of Manchester to attend the Animal Research Day.

Have you ever had a vaccination, general anaesthesia or used an asthma inhaler? What about taking pills for hay fever, antibiotics or headache tablets? If your answer is yes to at least one of these questions then you are one of the many people who have benefited from the use of animals in biomedical research.

On Wednesday 29 March, 33 Year 12 pupils from Manchester and nearby boroughs visited The University of Manchester to attend the Animal Research Day. The aim of the day was to promote transparency on animal research by giving school students a glimpse into what animal research really is and how it is conducted at a renowned research University.

The event started with an introductory talk on the use and importance of animals in biomedical research delivered by one of the animal lab technicians and a representative from the National Centre for Replacement, Refinement & Reduction of Animals in Research. Pupils then attended a tour of the Animal Unit to see the care standards and conditions afforded to the animals used in research, and took part in an interactive workshop to discuss the ethics of using animals for research. The day also included two laboratory practicals, where pupils experienced first-hand how fly research is done and explored the development of the heart in chick eggs.

Feedback from the event was very positive, with all pupils engaging well with the activities and many commenting on how much they enjoyed the day. The following comments from the pupils sums up the impact of the event:

“I was surprised at how well the animals were treated and how many regulations exist to protect their welfare.”

“Today justified the use of animals in medicine and showed that their treatment is not how the media portray it to be.”

“It was a very enjoyable and informative experience that changed the way I view animal research.”

Further information about animal research at The University of Manchester can be found on the award winning animal research website: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/research/environment/governance/ethics/animals/