The Portuguese Society of Laboratory Animal Sciences (SPCAL) in collaboration with EARA has developed a proposal to improve the information available to society about the use of animals in scientific research.

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The proposal is a Transparency Agreement on Animal Research in Portugal based on four commitments to help research centers and universities to improve publicly available information on this subject.

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The Transparency Agreement aims to improve the understanding and acceptance of research using animal models by Portuguese society, promoting openness and transparency regarding animal experimentation. The signatories thus agree to consistently share information on the use of animals in research as well as their scientific, ethical and moral justifications.

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The signatories of the Portuguese Transparency Agreement would agree to the following obligations:

- Post a declaration regarding animal welfare on the Institution's website.
- Link to Transparency Agreement.
- Provide appropriate information to the media and the general public about the conditions under which animal research is conducted and the results obtained.
- Develop initiatives that promote greater knowledge and understanding of society about the use of animals in scientific research.
- Report progress annually and share experiences.

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View all the organisations that have signed the agreement to date.

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Research with animal models has played a key role in advancing scientific, medical and veterinary knowledge. Regulated use of animal experimentation contributes to increasing knowledge about the mechanisms that regulate our health and to understanding how certain diseases develop.

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In our society there are people who understand the importance of using animal models in biomedical research strategy, but there is also a part that opposes this type of research. Usually, the negative position regarding animal experimentation is due to the lack of information and knowledge on this subject.

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This agreement is based on previous work that started in Portugal in 2017. A number of Portuguese research institutions have come together to discuss how to improve the understanding and acceptance of animal research by the Portuguese public. Present were representatives from the Faculty of Sciences and the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, NOVA Medical School | Faculty of Medical Sciences, University NOVA of Lisbon, Gulbenkian Institute of Science, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Lisbon and the Foundation Champalimaud At this meeting, EARA proposed exploring the possibility of developing a Transparency Agreement to guide an open and transparent step towards animal testing in Portugal.

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How to join the Transparency Agreement on Animal Research in Portugal?

If your institution wishes to support this initiative and sign the Transparency Agreement, or if you have any questions, please contact:

- Ana Barros, EARA Coordinator, abarros@eara.eu
- Bob Tolliday, Communication Coordinator for EARA, btolliday@eara.eu 00 44 (0) 7715525535
- Ricardo Afonso, President of the Portuguese Society of Laboratory Animal Sciences (SPCAL), acordotransparencia@spcal.pt