Animal Welfare

At PDXGhent Core, we are dedicated to advancing cancer research through the development and application of preclinical in vivo models. The use of laboratory animals is therefore an essential and inherent part of our work. As such, we place the highest importance on their welfare. Our approach is built on the responsible and respectful conduct of experiments, ensuring full compliance with legal requirements and ethical standards. Animal testing remains a vital part of cancer research, contributing significantly to better patient outcomes. We are fully committed to the welfare of the animals in our care, while also respecting those who may hold different viewpoints on the subject. Each new project is carefully evaluated to ensure that animal use is justified by its potential benefits for human health. The UGent policy on the use of laboratory animals in scientific research can be found here. 

We are licensed to handle, care for, and treat laboratory animals, as well as to design and execute experimental in vivo procedures. All housing and husbandry practices meet Belgian animal welfare legislation, particularly the Royal Decree of 29 May 2013. Our mice are housed in compatible social groups within Individual Ventilated Cages (IVCs), with continuous environmental enrichment provided throughout the experiment. This promotes natural behaviors and reduces physical and social stress. In cases of surgical or painful interventions, we use state-of-the-art anesthesia protocols, followed by appropriate analgesia and close veterinary supervision.

The welfare of the animals is closely monitored, with daily checks and preventative measures to minimize any potential suffering. The 3Rs—reduction, refinement, and replacement—are key aspects to our research strategy, guiding our efforts to minimize animal use while maximizing the quality and ethical conduct of our research. Therefore we are continuously updating our education level on new and alternative approaches.

Ethical Committee Dossiers

To conduct in vivo experiments, researchers must obtain two types of ethical approvals.

The first is Ethical Committee (EC) approval for the use of human patient material in relation to the research proposal. Each researcher must secure this approval before initiating any experiments. More information on this process can be found here.

The second is Animal Ethical Committee (ECD) approval, which governs the use of laboratory animals for research purposes. The PDXGhent Core Facility holds its own ECD approvals for the generation, validation, biobanking, and maintenance of PDX models. However, if a research proposal includes therapy efficacy studies, the researcher is responsible for obtaining their own ECD approval.

For further guidance on ethical approvals, feel free to contact us at PDXGhentcore@ugent.be.