Theme IV Animal Welfare for Refinement and High Quality Science
IV-1
Indicators of animal welfare to implement refinement

This session will discuss the development of objective tools to assess the welfare of traditional and non-traditional animal species, including developing pain scoring systems, establishing humane endpoints, and using indicators such as sleep as an index of welfare.

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IV-2
Farm animal research and the Three Rs

Raising animals for modern agriculture has led to an abundance of farm animal research. This session will report on the unique challenges of farm animal research in terms of setting and animal diversity, as well as how the outcomes of this type of research have led to improvements in farm animal welfare; in particular pain management and housing and husbandry practices.

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IV-3
Wildlife science and the Three Rs

This session will discuss the challenges of integrating animal welfare concerns in wildlife science, including potential conflict between the welfare of individual study organisms and the interests of the population or species as a whole, the consequences of assuming the welfare effects of research methods are limited to the short-term, and implementation of the three Rs in wildlife research. Through session presentations, insight into the practicalities and ethics of the methods used in vertebrate wildlife investigations will be provided, including identification, capture-release, remote monitoring, and population management or control.

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IV-4
Multi-imaging modalities, telemetry and the Three Rs

This session will examine the contribution of imaging and telemetry to the reduction and refinement of animal models, and examine the challenges to animal welfare.

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IV-5
Can pain research benefit research animals?

A discussion of recent breakthroughs in deciphering animal behaviour and interpreting rodent facial expressions as a method of improving the welfare of animals used in pain research and other types of research where pain is difficult to identify and assess.

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IV-6
Broadening the application of Refinement

Refinements have successfully been applied to reduce noxious experiences. This session will examine refinements that enhance the quality of life of laboratory animals, including positive welfare, and examine their impact on the validity of scientific outcomes.

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IV-7
Additional Session: The American College of Animal Welfare: a proposed new board certification specialty program

This session will provide an overview and update on the new American College of Animal Welfare (ACAW). The mission of the College is to advance animal welfare through education, certification, and scientific investigation. Following formal recognition by the American Veterinary Medical Association, ACAW will certify veterinarians with specialized training and experience to carry out the ACAW mission. Proposed guidelines for training programs and knowledge and experience areas for certification will be discussed.

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IV-8
Additional Session IV-8: Ending severe pain and distress in animal experiments by 2025?

Discussion on the opportunities, challenges and next steps towards ending severe pain and distress.

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IV-9
Additional Session IV-9: National Cancer Institute guidelines – a tool for implementing more humane endpoints?

The National Cancer Research Guidelines were published in 2010 and replaced the UKCCCR Guidelines that were in existence for a number of years. This session will provide some basic information on the guidelines and will include a discussion of the experiences of participants who have been making use of these, as well as where the NCRI guidelines may be added to and evolved in the future.

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