Acting Director: Dott.ssa Emanuela D'Amore
telephone: (+39) 06 4990 2517
mail: emanuela.damore@iss.it
Animal experimentation is still today a cornerstone of biomedical research and the scientific community consider essential the use of animals. To respond to the growing concern of the public opinion on the use of animals for scientific purposes the European Union has approved a series of directives. According to European and Italian pieces of legislation, the Centre for Animal Experimentation and Wellbeing of ISS has been coordinating in Italy cultural, scientific and technical aspects related to animal experimentation for 30 years.
The Centre advises the Italian Ministry of Health, and the other concerned government bodies on animal protection and welfare, alternative methods and 3Rs.
Moreover, the Centre carries out an intense activity of residential education related to the enforcement of the legislation on the protection of laboratory animals. Numerous courses have been organised since the transposition of the European directive. These courses, intended for all the professional figures of the Animal Welfare Body, include frontal lessons and role-playing exercises and aim to improve animal welfare in biomedical research.
Organisation of the Centre
The Centre is composed of two units
- Unit for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes
- Unit for the quality of animal research
According to art, 25 of D.L.gs. no. 26/2014, ISS has formed its Animal Welfare Body to oversee and guarantee the welfare of animals used in ISS. The Animal Welfare Body composition and functions comply with art. 26 of D.L.gs. no.26/2014.
UNITS
Protection of animals used for scientific purposes
Director: Dr.ssa Emanuela D’Amore (DVM)
Telephone: 06.4990.2517
Mail: emanuela.damore@iss.it
The unit mainly carries out institutional activity. Since the approval of D. L.gs. n.26/2014, which is the Italian transposition of the European Directive 63/2010/UE, all research activities, performed on animals in the national territory, need to be authorised by the Italian Ministry of Health. Before granting the authorisation, the Italian Ministry of Health has to acquire the technical-scientific evaluation of ISS.
The process of evaluation is divided in two sections: the scientific evaluation, performed by researchers, who are expert in different areas ( about 100) and work in the Departments, Centres and Services of ISS, and the technical evaluation that focuses on the aspects related to animal welfare and is performed by the Veterinarian from the Centre.
To identify the most competent experts in specific research fields, 14 thematic areas have been created; each thematic areas is identified by keywords corresponding to the expertise of one or more researchers.
Since the implementation of D.L.gs. n. 26/2014 the Centre has carried out over 11000 technical-scientific evaluation (around1800 per year). To evaluate such a high number of projects, the Centre uses a dedicated information technology platform that allows the transfer of documents to the experts and the storage of data related to each projects
Thanks to the collaboration of the Ministry of Health (Ufficio VI Benessere Animale) and IZS Teramo the National Platform on animal experimentation has been created (https://stabulari.izs.it); once the projects are submitted this platform allows the contemporary evaluation of correctness of documents by the Ministry of Health and of the technical and scientific aspects by ISS.
References
- Direttiva 2010/63/UE del Parlamento Europeo e del Consiglio del 22 settembre 2010 sulla protezione degli animali utilizzati a fini scientifici. G.U. UE L.276 del 20 ottobre 2010.
- Decreto Legislativo 4 marzo 2014 n. 26. Attuazione della direttiva 2010/63/UE sulla protezione degli animali utilizzati a fini scientifici. G.U. Serie Generale n.61 14 marzo 2014.
Links:
http://www.salute.gov.it;
http: //www.stabulari.izs.it;
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/lab_animals/home_en.htm; (Sezione del sito ufficiale della Commissione Europea dedicata alla protezione degli animali utilizzati a fini scientifici).
http://www.nc3rs.org.uk; (Informazioni dal NC3Rs che comunica attraverso sito web, simposi, workshop, linee guida, pubblicazioni, stampa).
https://arriveguidelines.org/resources
Quality of animal research
Director: Dr. Mauro Valeri
phone: 0649902881
mail: mauro.valeri@iss.it
The main task of the unit is the coordination of animal experimentation in ISS. The unit, which manages and constantly improves the animal facility of ISS, takes care of the supply of all materials necessary to perform the working activity and, according to the legislation in force, supervises and guarantees the quality and safety of all the experiments performed on animals. Through the coordination of the Animal Welfare Body of ISS, the unit, in compliance of the 3R principles, supports and assists the researchers from ISS when they have to prepare and submit animal projects to the Ministry of Health. The unit organises initial individual training courses, for those starting for the first time to work time with animals in ISS, and update courses for all the personnel working in the animal facility.
The unit is in charge as well of a quality management system that aims to improve both the daily workflow and the quality of animal research in ISS.
In the unit, a laboratory is also present; this laboratory carries out clinical-chemical, immunological and microscopic analyses to monitor the health and welfare of the animals used in ISS. The laboratory is equipped to perform embryo rederivation and cryopreservation; these techniques, which preserves embryos and gametes of genetically modified mouse strains, allow the reduction of the number of live animal housed in the facility.
The unit is also setting up an animal tissue/organ bank in order to promote the 3R principles in ISS.
There are areas for diagnostic images equipped with the following instruments:
The main task of the unit is the coordination of animal experimentation in ISS. The unit, which manages and constantly improves the animal facility of ISS, takes care of the supply of all materials necessary to perform the working activity and, according to the legislation in force, supervises and guarantees the quality and safety of all the experiments performed on animals. Through the coordination of the Animal Welfare Body of ISS, the unit, in compliance of the 3R principles, supports and assists the researchers from ISS when they have to prepare and submit animal projects to the Ministry of Health. The unit organises initial individual training courses, for those starting for the first time to work time with animals in ISS, and update courses for all the personnel working in the animal facility.
The unit is in charge as well of a quality management system that aims to improve both the daily workflow and the quality of animal research in ISS.
In the unit, a laboratory is also present; this laboratory carries out clinical-chemical, immunological and microscopic analyses to monitor the health and welfare of the animals used in ISS. The laboratory is equipped to perform embryo rederivation and cryopreservation; these techniques, which preserves embryos and gametes of genetically modified mouse strains, allow the reduction of the number of live animal housed in the facility.
The unit is also setting up an animal tissue/organ bank in order to promote the 3R principles in ISS
There are areas for diagnostic images equipped with the following instruments:
- IVIS (In Vivo Imaging System);
- Micro CT (Computed Tomography);
- High Frequency Micro-ultrasound system (Vevo 3100 Visualsonic).
Conventional, BSL-2 and BSL-3 animal facilities, equipped with laboratories and operating rooms, are present as well. These animal facilities are also available for third-party activities.
