FELASA Working Group Publishes Key Recommendations to Improve Quality in Animal Research

A new publication by the FELASA Working Group on Quality in Animal Research outlines important recommendations aimed at strengthening research quality, reproducibility, and transparency in animal studies. The article, now available open access in Laboratory Animals, can be accessed here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/00236772241295308

Recognising the ongoing challenges faced by researchers working with laboratory animals — including variable standards in planning, documentation, and institutional support — the working group developed a set of pragmatic, actionable recommendations. Their goal is to embed quality at every stage of the research process and promote a culture of continuous improvement across the scientific community.

Key messages from the report:

• Quality is everyone’s responsibility: from researchers and animal care staff to institutions, funders, and regulators.
• Planning and documentation are essential: systematic approaches like risk assessment, study planning tools (e.g. PREPARE), and thorough data management improve reproducibility.
• Training and internal support matter: institutions should invest in infrastructure, education, and defined quality roles to support good research practices.
• Cultural change is key: improving quality isn’t just about checklists – it requires shared values, communication, and leadership.

This work reflects a broader effort within FELASA to move from compliance to proactive, quality-driven research environments, and we at GoEQIPD welcome the alignment of these recommendations with the goals we promote across our network.

Members of the working group include professionals from academic institutions, regulatory bodies, and research organizations across Europe, including Thomas Steckler from our association.

Let’s continue to build bridges between scientific excellence, animal welfare, and institutional responsibility — for research that is not only ethical, but also credible and impactful.