Commitment to responsible animal testing.
Animal research at the University of Graz
One of the responsibilities of the academic world is to lay the foundations for the best possible medical care for humans and animals and to ensure that this care is continuously advanced. This includes developing new approaches to therapy, improving existing treatments, but also researching the causes of diseases and systematic correlations that are still unbeknown to us. Animal testing is an irreplaceable way to achieve this in the teaching and research of many fields.
High standards
The University of Graz adheres to the so-called 3-Rs principle: Replacement, Reduction and Refinement. It undertakes to perform animal testing experiments responsibly. This means a respectful handling of the laboratory animals while avoiding, to the greatest extent possible, pain and suffering, fear or any permanent damage.
Alternative methods
So as to avoid testing on animals wherever feasible, experiments are also carried out on model organisms. Yeast cells, for example, are suitable as a model system for basic cellular research because they are similar in structure and function to human cells. Computer models that simulate processes inside the body also provide important insights.
Public interest
Animal testing is a topic of great public interest. The University of Graz considers itself responsible for informing the public about established control processes and their results. It is committed to communicating openly about animal testing and wishes to make a continuous contribution to fair and balanced reporting on this ethically complex topic.
