Animal Welfare Body

The Animal Welfare Body (ORBEA) of CIÊNCIAS (orbea@ciencias.ulisboa.pt) is an independent advisory body whose purpose is to promote animal welfare in accordance with current legislation (European Directive 2010/63/EU, Decree-Law No. 113/2013 of 7 August, Decree-Law No. 1/2019 of 10 January), and to ensure ethical compliance and adherence to the rules on animal welfare in research and teaching carried out at the Faculty (ORBEA Regulations).

ORBEA has the following functions:

• To advise on matters relating to animal welfare;

  To advise on the application of the 3Rs principle (replacement, reduction and refinement);

• Establish and review internal operational procedures for monitoring, reporting and follow-up regarding the welfare of animals housed or used in the facilities (Bioterium and Guia Marine Laboratory);

• Monitor the progress and results of projects, taking into account the effects on the animals used;

• Provide advice on rehoming programmes.

Furthermore, within the same scope and upon express request from the Director, Heads of Department, project leaders and those responsible for the course units of CIÊNCIAS, specifically:

• To issue opinions and recommendations on ethical issues and compliance with animal welfare regulations in research and teaching carried out at CIÊNCIAS;

• To establish procedures for animal experimentation at CIÊNCIAS, recommending accepted protocols for procedures in accordance with current legislation;

• To issue opinions on projects or any experimental research or teaching procedures to be carried out at CIÊNCIAS.

Since 2017, the University of Lisbon has been a member of the European Animal Research Association (EARA), an association that works with research institutes, universities and companies to provide scientifically reliable data and to facilitate communication between these institutions and the general public regarding the use of animals for scientific purposes. Several Portuguese academic and research institutions are members of EARA.

CIÊNCIAS is a signer of the Transparency Agreement promoted by EARA among institutions in various countries. As such, through ORBEA, the Faculty is commited to provide data on projects involving animal experimentation, in a spirit of openness towards its community and society at large. The Faculty’s position on these matters is set out in the following document:

• Position Statement on Animal Research - Ciências ULisboa

All projects involving the use of animals for scientific purposes, under Decree-Law No. 113/2013, must be assessed and authorised in advance by the Competent Authority (General Directorate for Food and Veterinary – DGAV) and, to this end, must undergo a Project Authorisation Process with the DGAV.

The Project Authorisation Process with the DGAV requires the prior submission of a Non-Binding Opinion issued by ORBEA. The request for a Non-Binding Opinion from ORBEA requires the submission of the following documentation:

• A completed and signed Project Authorisation Application Form (instructions in English);

• A completed Non-Technical Project Summary template, using language easily understood by a layperson;

• Certificates of animal experimentation courses and respective accreditations issued by the Competent Authority (DGAV);

• A licence for the capture or keeping of wild animal specimens obtained from the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (if applicable).

All documentation for the Request for a Non-Binding Opinion should be addressed to the Presidente of the Body Responsible for Animal Welfare and sent to the following email address: orbea@ciencias.ulisboa.pt.

• Changes in the extracellular matrix and their impact on the development of congenital muscular dystrophy;

• Behaviour and physiology of small mammals.

• Preparation of 3D Decellularized Matrices from Fetal Mouse Skeletal Muscle for Cell Culture;

• Physiological and behavioural adjustment of a wild rodent to laboratory conditions.

• Statement on the use of animals for educational purposes at the Faculty of Sciences

List of documents relating to the current legislation governing animal testing:

• European Directive 2010/63/EU;

• Decree-Law No. 113/2013 of 7 August;

• Decree-Law No. 1/2019 of 10 January;

• ORBEA Regulations.