Animal experimental research at the BNITM

"Interventions or treatments for experimental purposes on animals if they may involve pain, suffering or harm to these animals" are defined as animal experiments according to the German Animal Protection Act.

The graphic illustrates the necessity of animal experiments by means of a purple tree. There are 5 branches in total: starting at the bottom left with a schematic picture of a virus in blue, with the text Researching diseases and improving treatment. Above this is the testing of active substances for safety, with the picture of two tablets and a test tube. In the top centre, the protection of humans and animals, with the symbol of two opening hands from which a butterfly flies off. On the right, by means of a skeleton of the torso, the exploration of bodily functions is mentioned. At the bottom right, the fifth point is education and training, represented by books and a doctor's case. — Overview of the need for animal experiments. ©tierversuche-verstehen.de

The BNITM is dedicated to research, teaching, training and further education as well as counselling and care in the field of tropical diseases and emerging infectious diseases. The focus is on parasitic diseases such as malaria, leishmaniasis or worm infections as well as infections caused by arboviruses and haemorrhagic fever viruses and the development of new diagnostics. Basic research enables us to gain new insights into the complex biology of pathogens and processes that take place in the host body. This is an absolute prerequisite for developing or improving potential drugs and therapies.

BNITM supports research into 3D organoid models and aims to use alternative methods in its own laboratories.

Alternative methods that mimic these complex biological interactions are unfortunately only available to a very limited extent so far. Therefore, in some areas of our research there is still a need to conduct animal experiments.

Areas of application of animal extemporaneous work

Chart showing the areas of application in which animal experiments take place: Toxicity, immunology, research on genetic material, surgery, veterinary medicine, neuroscience — Overview of the areas of application of animal experiments. ©tierversuche-verstehen.de | DFG

In Germany, animal experiments are carried out in the fields of toxicology testing, immunology, research into genetic material, surgery, veterinary medicine and neuroscience. Animal experiments to develop and test biological weapons, munitions or other military equipment are not permitted, nor are animal experiments to develop tobacco products, detergents and cosmetics.

At BNITM, animal experiments are mainly used in the field of immunological and translational infection research and only to a small extent for other experimental purposes.

A pie chart that provides an overview of the percentage of experimental purposes at BNITM. About 3/4 are basic research experiments. The remaining 1/4 is composed of translational/applied research-human infectious diseases, other basic research, routine production, and training in descending frequency. — Areas of animal experimental work at BNITM ©BNITM

Levels of stress for animals in research

"No one may cause pain, suffering or harm to an animal without reasonable cause." This is the central principle of §1 of the German Animal Protection Act.

Nevertheless, §7 of the German Animal Protection Act allows certain exceptions to this principle. For this purpose, scientists must be able to ethically justify their experimental purposes and demonstrate that they limit the expected pain, damage and suffering as far as possible.

So-called stress levels help to assess the planned experiments in advance with regard to pain, suffering or harm and thus facilitate the search for less stressful alternatives.

A detailled description of the stess levels can be found on the website of the initiative "Understanding animal experiments" under FAQs (12th point).

At the BNITM, mainly experiments are carried out that are classified as low-stress. No significant adverse effects on the welfare of the laboratory animals are to be expected. Minor pain, suffering or distress is only caused for a short time, if at all. Experiments in which moderate stress is to be expected take place only to a small extent, experiments with severe stress not at all.