A new perspective on animal testing
2018 Training for Animal Experiments and a Memorial Service for Laboratory Animals took place.
The Research Ethics Center offered education on research ethics.

The Research Ethics Center of Korea University’s Office of Research Management hosted the 2018 Training for Animal Experiments and a Memorial Service for Laboratory Animals at the Auditorium of the Science Library on February 21 at 10:00 a.m. The event was part of a two-day training session on research ethics by the Center starting on February 20th. The program was planned to enhance KU researchers’ awareness of research ethics and help them abide by relevant laws, regulations, and rules in performing their research activities. Undergraduate and graduate students (researchers) and faculty members (research supervisors) received training on “How to Use the Animal Testing Center”, “Assessment of Laboratory Animals’ Pain and Humane Endings”, and other aspects of research.

Kim Tae Sung, Chief of the Research Ethics Committee of the Center, reiterated the significance of education of research ethics and memorial services for laboratory animals. He said, “For decades, a number of laboratory animals have been sacrificed for the sake of experimentation. A platform for research without using animals is under development, but laboratory animals are still needed. As our experiments involve living creatures, we should feel sorry for them and appreciate for their sacrifice during our experiments.” He also added, “Don’t forget the 3Rs, namely replacement, reduction, and refinement, the so-called ethical consideration for animal testing. You should be more serious and considerate in developing plans for your laboratory animals.”

Prof. Kim Hae-Young from the College of Health Science offered a lecture on the theme of “Accurate Calculation of the Number of Animals for Testing” prior to the memorial service. She said, “Calculating the correct number of laboratory animals is a way to minimize unnecessary sacrificing and preserve the value of experiments. The principle here is not arbitrarily cutting the amount but using a legitimate number of animals.” Prof. Kim explained how researchers could statistically estimate the number of animals for testing by test type and introduced best practices.

Park Se-Ho, The Director of the Gyerim Experimental Animal Resource Center of KU, presided at the memorial service. Representatives of professors and graduate and undergraduate students laid flowers, and then all researchers took a moment of silence for sacrificed animals. Vice President for Research Affairs Park stressed, “I hope that this service gives you an opportunity to recognize the importance of ethical processes during research, instead of merely focusing on objectives and results.” He added, “I hope that this event will help all participants here today take a major step forward towards strengthening research ethics.”