Registration is now open for three upcoming online workshops, designed to help researchers, animal care staff, technicians and veterinarians refine their skills in anaesthesia, analgesia and postoperative pain management.
A preview of our upcoming online course, Understanding Your PIL Standard Conditions, set to launch later this year. An essential resource for both new and existing personal licence holders, providing clarity and guidance on how to fulfill the standard conditions associated with their licences.
Use of local anaesthetics in laboratory rodents is increasing, but are we using them safely and effectively? Recent surveys show a wide range of doses being used, often without strong evidence. As I explore the literature ahead of our upcoming workshops, it’s clear there’s more we can do to refine local anaesthetic use in small rodents.
You must report any unexpected adverse effects or potential breaches of severity limits to the Project Licence Holder immediately. Effective communication, confident severity assessment, and early action ensure compliance with Standard Condition 13, protect animal welfare, and maintain the integrity of regulated scientific work.
You must act immediately if an animal is in severe, unrelievable pain or distress. You must monitor animals closely, use clear welfare indicators, and be competent (or have support available) to perform humane killing to prevent unnecessary suffering and ensure compliance with A(SP)A.
You must prevent animals from dying unexpectedly on study by using early, humane endpoints instead of allowing death as the endpoint.
If the Secretary of State or ASRU requests the surrender or suspension of your licence, you must stop all activities immediately.
If an inspector from ASRU or a European Commission expert visits the facility to check how animals are being used and cared for in research facilities, the licence holder must help them with whatever they need to do their job.
When you hold primary responsibility as a PIL holder, you should make sure that you have delegated responsibility to another PIL holder whenever you are absent for long periods.
