A large audience at EARA member the University of Parma, on 14 November, heard a robust discussion, on the current state of openness in animal research in Italy. 

EARA executive director, Kirk Leech, outlined that global cultural change is underway in which the biomedical research community is adopting policies and practices to improve public understanding and acceptance of animal research.

This cultural zeitgeist of greater openness and transparency on animal research stretches now from Europe to Australia and New Zealand, the USA and Canada involving both private and public research. 

Kirk explained that although this process began in Europe Italy is lagging far behind, and the evidence of the EARA institutional website survey shows that little progress has been made by many institutions in Italy, and does not follow the positive trend in European countries where Transparency Agreements have been adopted.

Luca Bonini, professor of psychobiology and physiological psychology at Parma, highlighted

that some progress has been made at his university, but even here there is still not a culture of openness. 

Later, Marcello Raspa, adjunct professor of biotechnology in personalised medicine, at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, and Giuliano Grignaschi, secretary general of the advocacy organisation Research4life, and also the chief animal welfare officer at EARA member the University of Milan, both outlined plans to finally develop a Transparency Agreement for Italy.