Portuguese organisations that are signatories to the Transparency Agreement on Animal Research have continued to strengthen their commitment to openness and public engagement, according to the latest annual evaluation report covering activities undertaken in 2025.
Among the most notable developments in 2025 were:
The sixth annual report of the Portuguese Transparency Agreement, supported by the European Animal Research Association (EARA), includes responses from all 29 signatory organisations. While the total number of signatories has reduced by one due to the merger of two research institutes into the new Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine (GIMM), the report demonstrates that transparency practices have become firmly embedded across Portuguese institutions, marking a transition from growth to consolidation.
- 93% of signatories continue to have a public position statement on animal research on their websites.
- 83% use social media to communicate proactively about animal research, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and Bluesky.
- 23 organisations published news stories highlighting scientific discoveries involving animal research.
- 18 organisations organised courses or workshops on animal research and the 3Rs, while 16 organised dedicated public events on the topic.
- 22 institutions hosted visits to animal facilities for their own staff, 20 welcomed diverse groups, 14 received students from other institutions and 13 participated in open days.
- 15 organisations gave interviews discussing animal research, 12 participated in public panel discussions, 10 made media statements and 7 hosted journalist visits to their animal facilities.
The report also highlights continued improvements in communication quality. Many organisations reported introducing formal communication strategies, closer collaboration with institutional communications offices, newsletters and more structured digital content, demonstrating that transparency is becoming increasingly integrated into institutional culture.
Despite this progress, several challenges remain:
- Only seven organisations publicly share detailed statistics on the number and species of animals used in research.
- Limited staff time, communication expertise and financial resources continue to restrict further transparency activities.
- Institutional complexity, administrative processes and organisational restructuring remain barriers for some signatories.
A major milestone during 2025 was the Second Portuguese Open Week on Animal Research (2–5 December), during which institutions across the country organised laboratory and animal facility visits, public discussions, social media activities, podcasts and outreach events. The initiative also included engagement with patient organisations, university staff and families, helping to strengthen dialogue between researchers and society. The third edition of this initiative took place from 5-10 July 2026.
The year also marked the development of the first official visual identity for the Portuguese Transparency Agreement. The new logo, featuring an open door and a mouse in the colours of the Portuguese flag, symbolises the Agreement's commitment to openness, accessibility and responsible communication.
New logo for the Portuguese Transparency Agreement
Portuguese representatives also shared their experience internationally by presenting the country's transparency journey at the FELASA 2025 Congress in Athens and participating in the EARA Conference 2025 in Berlin, highlighting Portugal as one of Europe's leading examples of openness in animal research.
For more information, please contact Inês Serrenho (iserrenho@eara.eu).
This press release is also available in Portuguese.