Portugal celebrates Open Week on animal research

ICVS welcomed colleagues and family members for guided visits to their animal facilities. 

The second Portuguese Open Week on Animal Research (2–5 December) brought institutions across Portugal together to promote transparency and public understanding of the use of animals in biomedical research. The initiative is part of the Portuguese Transparency Agreement and supported by the European Animal Research Association (EARA). 

Faculty of Medicine – University of Porto (FMUP), EARA member Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS) and Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT) hosted onsite guided tours for colleagues and family members of the animal facility staff, showcasing how animal research is conducted and the welfare standards that govern it.  

ICVS launched a new institutional video featuring its animal facility. Champalimaud Foundation, EARA member, welcomed the clinical centre staff to its rodent and fish facilities, providing hands-on interaction with neuroscience research, including behavioural studies. 

The Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR) hosted members of the Central Region Diabetes Association, who observed how animal caretakers manage the rodent facility and discussed the role of animal research in advancing biomedical knowledge. Feedback was highly positive, with many attendees receiving their first direct insight into this area of research. 

The Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology of the University of Coimbra (CNC-UC) and EARA member Sea4Us hosted Instagram Q&A sessions on animal welfare and research. Nuno Franco, Vice-President of SPCAL and RedeORBEA Coordinator, appeared on the podcast The Deal with Animals to discuss communication around animal research. Joaquim Tapisso from the EARA member University of Lisbon recorded a ScienceCast – Uma conversa com Ciência podcast episode on transparency in animal research. 

These initiatives highlight the growing commitment across Portuguese institutions to openness, responsible communication and public engagement in animal research. 

LinkedIn posts about the animal facility visit organised by iCBR (Coimbra).