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City’s policy outlines what must be considered before undertaking any research involving animals.

  1. The University does not undertake any research on University premises that requires licensed approval under the ‘Animals in (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 Amendment Regulations 2012’ (ASPA) (see Appendix 1)
  2. Members of City University London do undertake research covered by the ASPA in collaboration with other institutions. On such occasions the research will be subject to that institution’s ethical procedures. A letter confirming proof of external ethical approval for the research must be registered through City Research Ethics Online.
  3. Members of the university may be involved in less invasive work on animals on University premises that is not subject to the ASPA (see Appendix 2 for examples). Such work must be approved by SREC and comply with the ‘Animal Welfare Act 2006.
  4. The University performs research that uses animal tissue obtained from animals sacrificed outside the University by recognised institutions such as zoos and other universities  Use of tissue from endangered species sourced from within the UK must be supported by documentation confirming ethics approval from the supplier. Use of tissue from endangered species from outside the UK is permitted, but evidence of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permit for import must be evidenced.
  5. All research involving animals, whatever its nature, carried out by members of City University London must consider the 3Rs;
  • Replacement (use of animal cells or if possible non‐animal alternatives)
  • Reduction (using fewer animals)
  • Refinement (minimise pain and enhance welfare throughout an animal’s life)
  1. Staff and students may opt out of research involving animals.

Approved by Senate May 2023

Appendix 1

The ‘Animals in (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 Amendment Regulations 2012’ applies to any species of living vertebrate (other than human) and any living cephalopod.

These animals are protected from an intervention that is likely to cause the animal pain, suffering, distress, or lasting harm equivalent to, or higher than, that caused by the introduction of a needle in accordance with good veterinary practice.  It also applies to embryonic and foetal forms of mammals, birds and reptiles once they have reached the final third of their gestation. Larval forms of fish and amphibians are also protected once they are capable of feeding independently. Any intervention carried out at an earlier developmental stage that will involve the subsequent birth or hatching of a protected species is also within the scope of this legislation.

Appendix 2

Although City University London does not undertake any research on University premises that requires licensed approval under the ‘Animals in (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 Amendment Regulations 2012’ (ASPA),  it does carry out some forms of research involving animals not covered by ASPA.

The following is a non‐exhaustive list of the types of procedures that might be performed. It is not a list of the procedures currently performed at City University London, and is simply for illustrative purposes. Such work might include;

  • invertebrates (apart from cephalopods); embryological/foetal forms of birds and reptiles within the first two-thirds of gestation ;larval forms of fish and amphibians before they are capable of independent feeding;
  • ringing, tagging or marking animals primarily for identification purposes if the method causes no more than momentary pain and no lasting harm;
  • non‐experimental practices undertaken for the purposes of recognised animal husbandry as long as they comply with other animal welfare legislation or regulations;
  • the killing of animals by approved methods (a schedule 1 method under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986); the non‐invasive observation of unrestrained animals, or any research intervention that is unlikely to cause the animal pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm equivalent to, or higher than, that caused by the introduction of a needle in accordance with good veterinary practice.

Appendix 3

Senate Research Ethics Committee

A research ethics application must be submitted to the Senate Research Ethics Committee for research involving animals that meets the following criteria:

  • research involving live animal use, not requiring licenced approval under ASPA, on City, University of London premises.

Members of SREC wishing to be involved in reviewing research proposals involving animals are required to undertake mandatory training before they can review projects. Reviewers need to retake the training every two years if they want to continue to be eligible to review such studies. Members can choose not to take part in reviewing research proposals involving animals.

Registration of research projects involving animals that meet the following criteria must be submitted through City Research Ethics Online:

  • research undertaken at another institution that requires licenced approval under ASPA, or would if it were conducted here in the UK.
  • research involving live animal use, not requiring licenced approval under ASPA elsewhere, so long as the programme of work meets the guidelines of the host institution.
  • research using animal derived tissue obtained from sources outside of City, University of London, including primary cells cultures, but excluding use of animal derived cell lines.

Application process

All research ethics applications must to be submitted using the City Research Ethics Online  application system. It is the responsibility of the researcher to ensure that the appropriate and required ethical approval before the research begins.

Research undertaken at an external institution

Individuals who undertake research as part of their employment, in other institutions (including outside the United Kingdom) are required to register their projects on Research Ethics Online. The following is required to be submitted:

  • Identification of species
  • Letter of confirmation that the programme of work meets the guidelines of the external host institution
  • ASPA regulated work conducted within the UK requires the project license number, or numbers, and the license expiry date
  • If a City, University of London employee is carrying out regulated procedures under a Home Office project licence in another institution within the UK, they should register their personal license

Audit

The Chair of Senate Research Ethics Committee will write to the Schools’ Chief Operating Officers and Properties and Facilities annually to request information about any animal work taking place in the institution.

Appendix 4

Resources

The 3Rs:

The principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) were developed over 50 years ago providing a framework for performing more humane animal research. Since then, they have been embedded in national and international legislation and regulations on the use of animals in scientific procedures, as well as in the policies of organisations. Any City, University of London staff member conducting animal research must familiarise themselves with the 3Rs. The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research provides details here.

Best practice guidelines:

Below are guidelines on how to conduct research involving animals

  • Research Integrity: A primer on research involving animals

Below are guidelines for the planning and reporting of studies involving the use of animals.

  • PREPARE Guidelines
  • ARRIVE 2.0 Reporting guidelines
  • The NC3Rs experimental design assistant

Glossary of terms for reference

Cell lines: Primary cell cultures that are grown past the first passage (sub cultured) are designated cell lines. These are commercially available and grown from frozen stocks that originated from living animals, but are no longer designated as animal tissue as they have been cultured ex vivo after the first passage. There is the same distinction with human derived cells; primary cell cultures of human cells are covered by the Human Tissue Act, after the first passage, such cell lines are no longer considered ‘relevant material’ under the Human Tissue Act and their use does not require a license or ethical approval.

CITES: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species. For import of any of the species listed by CITES, the importer (the City employee in our instance) would be required to provide evidence of a CITES permit or certificate to customs. This permit or certificate is only awarded upon evidence that the trade is legal, sustainable, and traceable in accordance with Art. III, IV and V of the Convention.

Killing: The killing of laboratory animals is often referred to as euthanasia, which literally means “a good death”. Since the use of the phrase euthanasia carries with it connotations of the ending of suffering for the benefit of the individual animal, which is not always the reason that laboratory animals are killed, it is more accurate to use the word killing in the laboratory setting.

Passage: The passage of a cell culture is when it has been sub-cultured, i.e. the cells are harvested from the cell culture medium and reseeded into multiple 'daughter' cell culture flasks, thus giving the cells more room to ‘grow’/multiply.

Primary cell culture: Cells harvested directly from a living animal and grown in cell culture up to the point of first passage (sub culture).

Tissue: a group of cells that have similar structure and that function together as a unit