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Animal Welfare Body (AWB)

The Animal Welfare Body (AWB) (Instantie voor Dierenwelzijn IvD) helps to ensure a responsible animal experimentation policy within Radboud University and Radboudumc. The AWB acts on behalf of  the Radboud University to oversee legal supervision of the performance of animal experiments and the welfare of laboratory animals, in accordance with the Animal Experimentation Act.

Organizationally, the AWB falls under the Animal Research Facility (CDL). The AWB is composed of animal welfare officers, bio-technicians, and one or more scientists. If necessary, the group is supplemented by a veterinarian, statistician, breeding-coordinator or other specialists.

Additional information can be found below the contact information.

Contact

Email
instantievoordierenwelzijn@radboudumc.nl
Secretary AWB
Christien Frederiks: +31 (0)24 361 35 00
Contact persons
Jeannette Lorteije: +31 (0)24 309 74 95
Miriam Kool: +31 (0)24 309 23 64
Alinde Wallinga: +31 (0)24 304 1059
Anke Schoenmakers: +31 (0)24 309 89 37

Additional information

Any institution that performs experiments on animals, or breeds or supplies animals for experiments, is required by the provisions of the 'Wet op de dierproeven' to set up such a body. We conduct our TASKS primarily for Radboud University and Radboudumc, and also for a few other educational and research institutions.

Optimal welfare for animals 
Our goal is to ensure that the optimal welfare of laboratory animals is an integral part of the structure of the Radboud University and Radboudumc. Of key importance is the optimal use of alternatives and proper and responsible research within the legal frameworks and with extra attention paid to replacement, reduction and refinement (3Rs).

Collaboration at all levels
In order to achieve these goals, we work closely together with researchers, research technicians, animal caretakers, managers and directors of Radboud University and Radboudumc. Together we maintain a ‘culture of care’.

Tasks
The Animal Welfare Body has a large number of tasks that we conduct on behalf of Radboud University and Radboudumc. These tasks are largely prescribed by law in accordance with the provisions of the Experiments on Animals Act. These tasks deal with issues such as animal welfare, alternatives to animal experiments, procedures, registration, supervision and communication with the Central Authority for Scientific Procedures on Animals (CCD). The most important of these tasks include:
Animal welfare and alternatives

  • offering advice on animal welfare during acquisition, accommodation, care and utilisation of animals
  • offering advice on replacement, reduction and refinement (3Rs)
  • providing information about technical and scientific developments
  • establishing and research procedures for monitoring and reporting on animal welfare
  • providing information and advice on the rehousing scheme and the appropriate socialisation of the animals

Procedures

  • discussing a project proposal with the applicant prior to applying for a project licence from the Central Authority for Scientific Procedures on Animals (CCD)
  • consulting with the researcher prior to the conduct of an animal experiment
  • working with the researcher to determine whether changes in the project must be submitted to the CCD

Registration and supervision

  • collecting registration data on animals and experiments
  • monitoring the welfare of laboratory animals
  • supervising the registration and evaluation of authorizations, expertise and skills of those working with laboratory animals

Central Authority for Scientific Procedures on Animals (CCD)

  • providing information for retrospective evaluation
  • reporting cases when a project is conducted differently than specified in the licence
  • reviewing the non-technical summary
  • all other correspondence with the CCD

And more…

  • developing internal policy
  • communicating about animal experiments (policy)
  • contributing to training and education
  • acting as the first point of contact in the event of problems or potential problems pertaining to animal welfare 
  • encourage cooperation and collaboration between researchers and animal caretakers
  • acting as the first point of contact for inspectors from the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA)
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Research Radboudumc Technology Centers Animal research facility

About Animal research facility

We offer advice and support from planning up to and including the conduct of animal research on behalf of biomedical research and education.

Contact

dr. ir. Nelleke Verhave
RTC coordinator

Phone number +31 (0)24 361 35 00
Contact our team by email:
contact form

Expertises and services

Let us enhance your research

An overview of our areas of expertise and available services.

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Let us enhance your research

We house well-trained and competent personnel that can assist you with various technical activities, varying from injections of compounds by all recognized routes and collection of tissue for further analysis up to complex surgical procedures.

Additionally, we can offer the necessary infrastructure for research with technical needs like anesthesia and surgery. Fully equipped operating theatres, radiology room and area for sterilization of instruments are available for academic research and industry. And we can offer the facilities for surgical product research and evaluation and for demonstrations and instructional courses for instance for training of hospital staff.

The Animal Welfare Body (AWB) is part of the CDL.

Services

  • Housing, care and welfare monitoring of rodents
  • Breeding of unique genetically modified rodent strains
  • (Farm) housing and care of larger animals (e.g. sheep, pigs, chickens, rabbits)
  • Supply of animal products and ex vivo material
  • Breeding and colony management
  • Veterinary care and support
  • Support on experimental design
  • Planning, preparation and support of procedures
  • Performance of animal experimental procedures
    • Anesthesia support for small and large animals
    • Rodent surgery including microsurgery
    • Large animal surgery
    • Postoperative animal care
    • Drug administration
    • Blood/sample collection
    • Working with radioactive and toxic agents
  • Management of facilities, equipment and research areas
  • Education in LAS and training and competency development of staff
  • Support of regulatory and legal processes related to animal research
  • Quality assurance, animal welfare, and continual improvement of processes

For research with aquatic animals and fish please visit: Radboud Zebrafish Facility | Radboud Universiteit

Process of animal experimentation

For all facets relevant to the process of animal research please visit this timeline. 

Documents and forms

Process of animal experimentation for researchers

See the roadmap with all facets relevant to the process of correct animal research.

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Adoption of animals

Rats and mice become available for adoption regularly at the Animal Research Facility.

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Adoption of animals

Rats and mice become available for adoption regularly at the Animal Research Facility. These animals have undergone minor procedures, such as behavioral research, or have not been used in animal experiments. They are healthy and easy to handle, making them suitable for adoption as pets.

Requirements for adoption include: a spacious cage, sufficient time for care, and preferably no dogs or cats in the same living space. The animals are always placed in same-sex pairs or groups that are already accustomed to each other.

Are you interested?

Are you interested in adopting animals? Please contact the Animal Welfare Body at Radboudumc Nijmegen: instantievoordierenwelzijn@radboudumc.nl. You will receive an information packet. After that, we will meet with you in person to determine which animals would be a good fit for you. If there is a match, we can then schedule an appointment for adoption.

Annual reports

See recent reports (in Dutch).

Teams

See our four teams and their respective contact information.

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Teams

See our four teams and their respective contact information.


Responsible animal research

Animal Welfare Body (AWB)

The AWB acts on behalf of the Radboud University to oversee legal supervision of the performance of animal experiments and the welfare of laboratory animals, in accordance with the Animal Experimentation Act. The AWB is available via email and several contact persons.

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Animal Experiment Committee (DEC)

The Animal Experiment Committee (in Dutch: DierExperimentenCommissie) determines whether the scientific and/or social significance of an animal experiment outweighs the discomfort that the affected animals will encounter. DEC has its own contact information.

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Animal Experiment Committee (DEC)

Radboud University’s Animal Experiment Committee (DierExperimentenCommissie, RUDEC) is an independent committee recognized by the CCD (Central Authority for Scientific Procedures on Animals). DEC determines whether the scientific and/or social significance of an animal experiment outweighs the discomfort that the affected animals will encounter. She advices the CCD, who issues the licenses necessary for performing animal experiments. This (ethical) assessment is carried out according to the legal regulations as stipulated in the Wet op de dierproeven (WOD) and in the Dierproevenbesluit.

DEC consists of experts in animal experiments, alternatives for animal experiments, laboratory animals and their protection, and ethics.

Contact

Email: Dierexperimentencommissie@radboudumc.nl
Phone: +31 (0)24 361 90 75

Responsible research with laboratory animals

Radboudumc aims to be at the forefront of developing sustainable, innovative and affordable healthcare. This starts with good scientific biomedical research. For some biological and medical research, animal research is still indispensable or sometimes even required by law.

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Organization and people

Getting here

Entrance: Animal Research Facility
Route: 231

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Getting here

Visiting address

Geert Grooteplein 29
6525 EZ Nijmegen

Directions

Go to Geert Grooteplein 29
travel by car travel with public transport
Enter building at: Animal Research Facility
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Follow route 231