Promoting a Culture of Care
One of the legal tasks of an Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB) is to promote a Culture of Care. But what does this mean and why is this important?
Promoting a Culture of Care
One of the legal tasks of an Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB) is to promote a Culture of Care. But what does this mean and why is this important?
Culture of Care in Animal Research
The use of animals in research is an area where there are often polarised views within society, and it can be an emotive topic and an emotional burden for staff who work with animals. A positive Culture of Care leads not only to enhanced scientific quality from the animal research conducted and better animal welfare but also to staff who feel supported, engaged, and respected for their contributions to animal research and encourages the ability to challenge and strive for improvement.
Within a positive Culture of Care compliance risks are reduced, and staff feel able to talk about their role in animal research in a positive way
Sally Robinson
Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB) Chair
Within a positive Culture of Care compliance risks are reduced, and staff feel able to talk about their role in animal research in a positive way. For all these reasons a positive Culture of Care is essential.
A positive Culture of Care should never be taken for granted – there are always small things that can be improved, and ways that staff can feed back in an inclusive and open way. The AWERB established a Culture of Care sub-group. This group has had several meetings to brainstorm what a Culture of Care might look like and how it could be described.
The group have developed a Culture of Care Pledge, which was shared more widely within the Institute for feedback. This pledge acts as a focus from
which improvement initiatives can be developed. The pledge was launched officially at an event in Summer 2024, and staff are able to sign up to the pledge and provide input and feedback on potential areas for improvement.
Our Culture of Care Pledge
Our goal is to build on the compassion and experience of all in vivo stakeholders in the areas of excellence that already exist at CRUK MI e.g., in the care, welfare and use of our mice, the variety of the contributions from all of our staff and the delivery and impact of our high-quality science.
In order to achieve this goal, we pledge to:
Strive to look for ways to further improve the care and welfare of the mice we use by adopting best practice, putting the 3Rs at forefront of our decision making, and ensuring that each individual mouse is valued
Maintain a safe and respectful workplace for all our colleagues working directly and indirectly with our mice where open-mindedness, challenge
and enquiry are encouraged, differing perspectives are heard, collaboration and teamwork are valued, personal development is supported, and the emotional responsibility of animal work is recognised
Share our research and practices with the wider scientific community, to clearly communicate the benefits and developments in animal research with the public, and to share our learnings internally to promote best practice to live up to the values of the Institute
Our vision for world leading cancer research in the heart of Manchester
We are a leading cancer research institute within The University of Manchester, spanning the whole spectrum of cancer research – from investigating the molecular and cellular basis of cancer, to translational research and the development of therapeutics.
Our collaborations
Bringing together internationally renowned scientists and clinicians
Scientific Advisory Board
Supported by an international Scientific Advisory Board