Ethical Statement on Experimental Animal Research

Ethical Statement on Experimental Animal Research

We are committed to promoting ethical research practices, particularly when it involves the use of animals in scientific experiments. Authors submitting manuscripts involving animal research must adhere to the following ethical standards and guidelines:

1. Compliance with International Guidelines

All animal research must comply with internationally recognized ethical frameworks, including but not limited to:

  • The ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) Guidelines.
  • The principles outlined in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (National Research Council).
  • Local and national regulations governing animal welfare and ethics in the researcher's country.

2. Ethical Approval

  • Authors must obtain prior approval for their study from an accredited Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or equivalent Ethics Committee.
  • A copy of the approval documentation must be submitted with the manuscript.

3. Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement (3Rs)

Authors are expected to follow the 3Rs principles:

  • Replacement: Use alternatives to animal testing wherever possible.
  • Reduction: Minimize the number of animals used in the study without compromising scientific validity.
  • Refinement: Use methods that minimize pain, suffering, and distress for the animals involved.

4. Care and Housing of Animals

  • Animals must be housed in appropriate facilities that meet high standards of welfare.
  • Researchers must ensure proper care, including adequate nutrition, hydration, and environmental enrichment, to minimize stress and suffering.

5. Experimental Procedures

  • Procedures that cause significant pain or distress must be justified scientifically and performed under appropriate anesthesia or analgesia.
  • Humane endpoints must be defined and observed to prevent unnecessary suffering.

6. Reporting Requirements

  • Manuscripts must include a detailed description of the methods used to ensure animal welfare during the research.
  • Authors must state the species, strain, sex, age, and number of animals used, as well as the rationale for their use.
  • Compliance with ethical standards and approval must be explicitly mentioned in the methods section of the manuscript.

7. Non-Compliance

Submissions that fail to meet these ethical requirements will not be considered for publication. If ethical violations are discovered post-publication, the article may be retracted, and the relevant authorities may be informed.

8. Transparency

Authors are encouraged to provide any supplementary information, such as ethical approval certificates, upon request.