Our Values and Responsibility

The University of Basel adheres without exception to the Policy for Animal Research adopted by swissuniversities, the umbrella organization of Swiss universities. This policy is based on the principles outlined by the Basel Declaration, which aims to promote the ethical use of animals in biomedical research globally. The goal is to increase public trust in animal biomedical research and promote open, transparent communication about the research conducted. By joining the Culture of Care Charter of the Swiss 3R Competence Center (3RCC), the university further commits to respectful treatment of laboratory animals and personnel, the implementation of the 3Rs principle and transparent communication in animal experimental research.

In Switzerland, research involving vertebrate animals is subject to one of the strictest laws in the world, the Swiss Animal Welfare Act (AniWA). The  Animal Welfare Ordinance, the Animal Experimentation Ordinance and the Animal Welfare Training Ordinance ensure its implementation. These regulate the handling of laboratory animals in breeding, husbandry and experimentation as well as requirements for the qualification and further training of the personnel concerned.

Animal research includes:

• Experiments on living animals that are used to test a scientific hypothesis
• Experiments in which the effect of certain substances on animals (such as the effect of a drug) is examined
• Removal of animal cells, organs or body fluids for experimental purposes

Laboratory animals include:

• Vertebrates
• Mammals, birds and reptiles in the last third of their developmental period before birth or hatching
• Larval stages of fish and amphibians that feed freely

The degrees of severity indicate the level of constraint that animals are subjected to during experiments. These degrees are legally mandated and are determined for each animal experiment as part of the authorization process before it is conducted. Throughout the evaluation of the experiment, the actual burdens are documented and reported annually to the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO).

At the University of Basel in 2022, slightly under one third of the experiments were categorized as degree of severity 0, about one third were categorized as degree of severity 1 or degree of severity 2. The smallest proportion of experiments, at about 5%, were classified as degree of severity 3. More about the distribution of severity levels at the University of Basel can be found on the Facts and Figures page. Here are some examples of experiments at the University of Basel classified into different degrees of severity:

Every animal experiment conducted at the University of Basel must undergo a thorough justification process and receive approval from the Cantonal Veterinary Office of Basel-Stadt. Prior to submission of an application, researchers are required to carefully evaluate whether the expected benefits outweigh the potential burden caused to the animals, a process known as the harm-benefit analysis

Furthermore, it is crucial to adhere to the 3Rs principle: Are there alternative, animal-free methods to achieve the research objective?  Can more humane experimental techniques be used? How can effective pain management be achieved? When and which criteria for terminating experiments should be applied? Can the number of animals be minimized while producing reliable results?

The Animal Welfare Officers and the 3R Coordinator are available to support and advise researchers during these evaluations. Additionally, the Animal Welfare Officers are responsible for ensuring that all applications are complete before submission.

The application for animal experiments is reviewed by the Cantonal Veterinary Office, and in cases of degrees of severity 1-3, the Cantonal Animal Research Commission is involved. The commission comprises veterinarians, scientists, animal welfare representatives, specialists for alternative methods, and ethicists. During the approval process, a balance between the harm to the animals and the benefit of the experiment is ensured according to the criteria outlined in the legislation.

The commission evaluates the application, may request further information from the researcher, and provides a recommendation. The Cantonal Veterinary Office then grants the license. The maximum validity period for an animal research license is three years.

The researchers bear full responsibility for conducting the experiments and overseeing the welfare of the animals. The veterinarians at the University of Basel provide them with advisory support. The Animal Welfare Officers conduct routine inspections of research teams and animal husbandry as part of internal audits. Moreover, the cantonal veterinary authority, in conjunction with representatives of the Animal Research Commission, conducts regular unannounced inspections to verify compliance with the prescribed conditions and requirements.