The European Animal Research Association (EARA) has announced its expansion into Ireland with seven Irish research institutions including Trinity, joining the organisation last month.
The expansion into Ireland brings the EARA’s membership to 189 institutions.
Joining alongside Trinity are the Irish Laboratory Animal Science Association (ILASA), University College Cork (UCC), Dublin City University (DCU), University of Galway (NUIG), the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and Maynooth University.
According to the EARA the new members include “all major Irish research institutions” that conduct biomedical research on animals.
EARA executive director Kirk Leech said the expansion into Ireland marks a “greater commitment to open communication” on the issue of animal research and “a big step” towards the creation of a national transparency agreement in Ireland.
The EARA aims to increase public awareness on the need for “the humane use of animals in scientific research” by providing “evidence-based information” and encouraging transparency from their member institutions on their use of animals.
The creation of a national transparency agreement in Ireland would see member institutions pledge to provide “adequate” information to the public on “when, how and why animals are used in investigation” and the conditions under which the research is taking place.
There are currently 10 active transparency agreements across the globe in Belgium, France, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
Trinity has previously been criticised for its use of animals in research, by a number of groups including the Irish Anti-Vivisection Society (IAVS).
In 2019, Trinity News reported that college purchased roughly 17,000 live animals for research over two academic years between 2016 and 2018.
A spokesperson for Trinity at the time said: “Animal studies are conducted only when they will contribute to the advancement of knowledge that is likely to lead to the improvement of the health and welfare of animals and human beings.”
“All studies carried out in Trinity are conducted on the basis of well-defined scientific objectives, giving due consideration to the welfare of the animals, minimising the number of animals used and, where possible, using animal tissue or other replacements rather than live animals.”
