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Animal Research and Computational Neuroscience
Through optimization and exchange of methods and data, Computational Neuroscience significantly contributes to limiting animal experiments to a minimum, while achieving a maximum of scientific insight. Computer simulations and theoretical models may even replace some experiments altogether. |
Even this young discipline, however, can not do without any experimental data. Animal experiments will continue to be necessary in the future, in order to clarify basic questions about the function of the nervous systems of humans and animals, to acquire basic data for the design of models, to challenge hypotheses and to safely test medical or technological applications before they are applied in humans.
The scientists of the Bernstein Network are firmly committed to the 3R principles ("refine, reduce, and replace"). All research is designed such that animal experiments get refined, the number of experiments and animals used is reduced, and, wherever possible, animal experiments are replaced by alternative metods.
News on the ongoing redefinition of animal welfare legislation in Europe:
- New EU directive on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes (2010/63/EU)
- Position of FENS (Federation of European Neuroscience Societies) on the new directive
- Position of ESF-EMRC (Standing Committee of the European Science Foundation) on the new directive
- Joint statement by FENS (Federation of European Neuroscience Societies), JNS (Japanese Neuroscience Society) and SfN (Society for Neuroscience)(download pdf)
- Declaration of Basel (website of the "Basel Declaration" initiative, news-item, text of the declaration)
- Current version of German animal welfare legislation (in German)
- Nature: "Basel declaration defends animal research"
- Nature: "Animal instinct"
Publications about animal research:
- Special issue of the Bernstein Newsletter about primate reseach
- SfN brochure: "Translational Neuroscience Accomplishments"
Links:
- Comprehensive information about brain research on non-human primates can be found on the Website of the Logothetis lab, Max-Planck-Institute for biological Cybernetics, Tübingen (BCCN Tübingen)
- Website of the German Research Foundation (DFG) about animal research and welfare (in German)
- FENS Committee on Animals in Research (CARE)
- Understanding Animal Research
- Los Angeles Times: "Why I use animals in my research"
- Nature: "Battle Scars"
- Sign on San Diego "Animal research and medical progress"