Refining the animal experience at LARIF 

Background

The use of animals in research brings ethical responsibilities. Scientists must balance the potential benefits of research with a clear moral duty to protect the animals involved.

It is vital to ensure the highest standards of animal welfare by minimising distress, pain, and any lasting harm. This is the right thing to do ethically, and also supports better science.

Evidence shows that when animals experience stress, fear, or discomfort, their physiological responses can change. This can affect the accuracy and reliability of research data.

Stress-related behaviours can:

• create safety risks for both animals and handlers
• make procedures more difficult to carry out
• impact the overall feasibility of studies, particularly with large animals.

At the Large Animal Research and Imaging Facility, researchers work within a strong culture of care that prioritises animal wellbeing alongside scientific goals.

This includes:

• habituation to help animals feel comfortable with people and procedures
• environmental enrichment to support natural behaviours
• refined protocols that reduce invasiveness and stress.

By continually improving how animals are cared for, researchers support better welfare, better science, and more responsible innovation.

At LARIF

The specially designed spaces can be adapted for each study. This flexibility helps researchers meet scientific goals and reduce potential stress for animals.

Animal welfare is supported through close collaboration between:

• Named Veterinary Surgeons (NVS)
• Named Animal Care and Welfare Officers (NACWO)
• the facility manager
• skilled animal care technicians.

Together, they provide tailored enrichment and habituation programmes that suit the needs of each species and study. These may include environmental enhancements, positive human–animal interactions, and gradual familiarisation with procedures.

Researchers working within the facility are committed to the ongoing refinement of procedures with a focus on:

• reducing perceived stressors
• encouraging animal cooperation and calm behaviour
• improving both welfare and data quality.

This continual improvement ensures that animal care, ethical responsibility, and scientific excellence go hand in hand.

Impact

Refinement strategies in animal research support natural behaviours and help animals feel at ease in their environment and in their interactions with people. When animals are more comfortable and confident, their experience in a research setting improves.

This approach leads to:

• reduced stress, fear, and discomfort
• better day-to-day welfare for animals
• more reliable and consistent scientific data

Lower stress levels do more than improve welfare. Calm, well-habituated animals are less likely to show stress-related physiological changes that could affect results.

Refinement work carried out at LARIF is shared with partner facilities and research groups which helps:

• share best practice in animal care
• support validation of research findings
• encourage standardised refinement methods across studies.

By sharing knowledge and continually improving standards, researchers help ensure that animal welfare and high-quality science progress together.

Publications