The Focus on Severe Suffering initiative has had a successful year in 2022, with inspiring UK-based and international events, lots of positive support from the scientific community, and published statistics showing further decreases in procedures causing severe suffering in both the UK and European Union. This has been due to a number of factors, including refined humane endpoints, improved husbandry and support for animals, better communication between people with different roles (especially where animal technologists and care staff have been consulted) and more involvement from bodies such as the Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB), Animal Welfare Bodies (AWBs) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs).
We have also had positive feedback about the Roadmap approach to reviewing severe procedures. There is a flyer (PDF 638 KB) about the Roadmap (right), which you might like to print and display, or share with colleagues. We are keen for more establishments to trial the Roadmap – which can also be used to refine moderate or mild severity procedures – and would be happy to discuss its use, or run workshops to help trial it, in person or online. Please contact us using the form at the foot of this page if you would like to know more.