Review and outlook for the INRAE technical school on "Ethology and welfare in animal experimentation"

Abstract

The obligation to follow a training to maintain skills in animal experimentation, and the identification a training need by the INRAE Direction, the animal experimentation bureau and training managers of INRAE centers that work on animal were at the origins of this technical school on animal welfare in experimentation. Several scientists at the training department and an organising group of experts in ethology and animal welfare have elaborated this program in two modules : emotions and animal welfare. Some workshops in sub-groups, discussions raised from experiences and videos, and theoretical concepts have allowed this school to be an important exchange moment for the different actors in experimentation. After four years in progress, at the rate of two sessions a year, this training is still expected so that two sessions are programmed until the end of 2021. Thanks to this school, participants have expressed some specific training needs like the SBEA (Structures chargées du Bien-Être Animal, laboratories in charge of animal welfare) network, a reflection on the future of animals at the end of experimentation and a reflection about euthanasia will be implemented soon.