BAP Statement on Animal Research

The use of animals in Psychopharmacology

The BAP supports the use of animals in biomedical research in the UK, which is essential and unavoidable, and the continuing, thorough scrutiny of this research. The activities of the BAP underpin its members’ commitment to the development of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) and a culture of care and best practice in psychopharmacology research.

The British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP) represents about 1000 clinical and non-clinical members who work in academia, industry and the health service. The BAP supports the effort to find new ways of treating debilitating (sometimes life-threatening) psychiatric disorders such as depression, schizophrenia and dementia. Members of the BAP are dedicated to ensuring best practice in psychiatry and acknowledge that this requires the evaluation of existing medicines as well as the discovery and developments of new ones. Research using animals has made, and continues to make, a vital contribution to this process.

Psychopharmacology research recruits a wide range of techniques including those using isolated cells and tissues, as well as experiments on humans. Nevertheless, it is still necessary to understand how drugs affect whole animal physiology and behaviour. To this end, experiments using animals make an essential and unavoidable contribution to the development of new medicines and the discovery of the therapeutic targets of the future.

Research in the UK that involves animals is stringently regulated by the Home Office and requires the authorisation of a Project Licence, granted by the Home Secretary. Criteria for granting Project Licences are defined in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Project Licences are required for each specific programme of research and are awarded only when the research objectives cannot be achieved by using in vitro alternatives or humans and when the benefits of the research justify the use of animals, taking into account the experiences of the animals concerned. Applicants for a licence must provide assurance that the research will use the minimum number of animals needed to reach a valid conclusion. They must also confirm that every effort is made to minimise any distress experienced by the animals. Scientists are licensed to carry out experiments on animals only when they have provided evidence that they are aware of their responsibility to optimise animal welfare in their research and that they have received appropriate training. All applications for a Project Licence are scrutinised by a local ethical review panel that includes lay members as well as researchers and named animal care and welfare officers. The majority of experiments are carried out on rodents (rats and mice).

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  1. Preclinical Certificate Module 3: Experimental Design 1: Statistics and Experimental Design on 4th January 2012
    registration is now open click here for further information
  2. Congratulations to Professor Trevor Robbins on 3rd January 2012
    Professor Trevor Robbins President of BAP 1996-1998, was awarded Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for services to medical research in the New Year Honours List. Click here for more information about Professor Robbins Professor Robbins
  3. 2011 BAP Summer Meeting Plenary Session entitled “Mental Health, Neuroscience and the Wellbeing of S on 26th August 2011
    A special Plenary Session was held at the recent British Association for Psychopharmacology summer meeting 2011 entitled “Mental Health, Neuroscience and the Wellbeing of Society.” The participants were international leaders in the field of mental health, neuroscience and the wellbeing of society. The BAP was very fortunate to have not only a group of eminent speakers, but also leaders with vision for important new developments in the field. The audience feedback indicated that the talks were outstanding and there was a very high quality of discussion. As a tribute to the excellence of the speakers the audience filled the room and there was standing room only. Due to the importance of the participants’ talks and the demand by the Members of the BAP we have made these recordings available. Click here to access the menu 2011 BAP Summer Meeting Plenary Session

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