Animal use in research and teaching at the University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne is a leading institution dedicated to cultivating research and teaching that benefits society. Using animals in research and teaching is often essential to advances in knowledge that improve the health and well-being of both humans and animals, and that protect the environment.

Many of our modern achievements in developing treatments and medication for serious diseases would not have been possible without the use of animals.

The University includes leading research groups that specialise in animal health and well-being. Examples include the Animal Welfare Science Centre and One Health Research Group, committed to advancing research in domestic and wild animals’ health while offering expert guidance and education. The Melbourne Biodiversity Institute is committed to tackling the biodiversity crisis and actively engages in conserving endangered Australian species.

The University recognises that animals are sentient beings with intrinsic value. We respect the lives and experiences of all animals used in research and teaching. We understand that the use of animals for scientific purposes is a privilege that needs to be backed by high standards of animal care.

Researchers in lab analysing tissue in a microscope

The Openness Agreement

The University of Melbourne is proud to be one of the early signatories of the Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in Australia, developed by the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART).

We commit to fostering a culture of openness and transparency, enhancing public confidence, and improving accountability to support high-quality research at the University and throughout Australia.

Ethical principles

We support the use of animals in research only when it is ethically justified and when there are no practical alternatives. At the University of Melbourne, ethical justification means that the potential benefits of the research or teaching must outweigh any harms experienced by the animals.

We actively support the internationally accepted 3Rs principles of humane animal use which are to:

  • Replace animals with non-animal models where possible
  • Reduce numbers to the minimum required
  • Refine care and develop techniques to improve animal welfare.

Our Animal Welfare Excellence Award Program encourages and recognises the contributions of our researchers to the innovative advancement of the 3Rs, including work to develop non-animal replacement models.

Governance and oversight

In Australia, the use of animals in research and teaching occurs within a strict regulatory framework.

Regulation occurs primarily through institutional animal ethics committees (AECs), which are guided by the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes ('the Code'), the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Laboratory Mice Rats Rabbits and Guinea Pigs (Victoria), and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (Victoria).

Under the Code, an AEC must include four categories of members which are:

  • Registered veterinarians
  • Experienced researchers
  • Animal welfare representatives
  • Lay people (members of the community with no connection to research).

The AECs use the ethical and regulatory framework provided by the Code to assess all proposed research and its impact on animal welfare, only approving projects that meet these standards.

We take our responsibility for animals and their welfare seriously. Our 'Culture of Care' model strives for a collective understanding among all stakeholders involved in the care and use of animals, emphasising their shared duties concerning animal welfare.

We employ dedicated, in-house experts to advise on animal care and welfare, train our personnel in their obligations, and foster a culture of care.

Frequently asked questions

  • Yes. Research carried out using animals has been instrumental in the development of many medicines and treatments that improve the health and welfare of animals. Research on wildlife provides direct and indirect benefits for specific species and their habitats.

  • We provide our animals with not only the basics (eg food, water, shelter), but also opportunities for positive experiences. Depending on the species and setting, this may include positive human interactions, environmental enrichment, treats, playpens, food puzzles, social housing, training, or any other means to facilitate species-specific natural behaviours.

    Specialised animal care staff look after the animals daily, and dedicated veterinarians tend to their physical and psychological health. The scientists who work with these animals are also closely engaged in their care. Researchers depend on robust and healthy animals to produce reliable results, so it is in everyone’s best interest to provide the best care and environment possible. Everyone who works with animals has a responsibility to care for their well-being.

    Australian law dictates that our care for our animals’ physical and behavioural needs must be in accordance with current best practices and scientific knowledge.

  • At the University of Melbourne, we strive to develop and use replacements for animals in teaching where possible. However, there are some instances where animals are currently required for teaching purposes, primarily in our animal-related courses such as veterinary science, animal science, agriculture, or zoology.

  • No. Testing cosmetics or their ingredients on animals does not meet our ethical standards and is illegal in Australia.

For further enquiries related to animal research at the University of Melbourne please contact us at: animal-research@unimelb.edu.au

Banner picture: iStock Images

Learn more about animal health and wellbeing research

First published on 19 July 2024.

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