Our Commitment

Queen's University Belfast is one of the UK's leading research intensive universities.  Queen's is committed to the Concordat to Support Research Integrity therefore, is committed to ensuring any research involving animals is undertaken with integrity.  In October 2012, the University signed the 'Concordat on Openness on Animal Research in the UK'.  This demonstrates our commitment to be open about the ways in which animals are used in scientific, medical and behavioural research in the University. 

Research involving animals has, and continues to make, a vital contribution to improving human and animal health.  It has been an important part of enhancing the understanding, treatment and cure of cancer, cardiovascular disease, blindness, neurodegenerative and infectious diseases. In addition, it has helped provide valuable insight into animal behaviour leading to improvements in the care of pets housed, for example, in kennels.

The ARRIVE Guidelines (Animal Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments) are an integral part of the Concordat and Queen's University is committed to their use.  The ARRIVE Guidelines, developed by the National Centre for Replacement, Refinement & Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), assist our researchers in communicating how they use animals in their research.