- Dates: 8th, 9th and 10th December 2025
- Time: Live sessions will be held 13:30–15:30 (UK time)
- Format: Pre-recorded webinars, e-learning modules and live, interactive sessions
- Cost: £300
Introduction
- This workshop will take place on 8th, 9th, and 10th December 2025, and is designed for animal technicians, veterinarians, research staff, and others seeking to deepen their understanding of this topic and implement refinements in their current protocols. The programme combines pre-recorded webinars, live sessions, and e-learning modules.
- The focus of the workshop is on enhancing the welfare of laboratory rodents and rabbits. Participants will gain an overview of contemporary concepts of animal welfare, including the nature of stress and distress, providing a strong foundation for discussing both procedure-related and other sources of pain and discomfort.
- Topics will also cover severity assessment, humane endpoints, and the principles of positive welfare.
- The registration fee is £300 GBP. Links to register are available at the bottom of this page.
- Participant numbers are limited to ensure interactive sessions remain effective and engaging.
Scheduling
- Participants will be encouraged to complete e-learning modules and to review some of the recommended reading before the live sessions.
- Live sessions will run from 13:30 (UK) time on each day.
Content
- Four e-learning modules.
- Three live sessions, each lasting 120 minutes, including Q&A and opportunities for open discussion.
- Supplementary reading and reference materials.
- All pre-recorded content is available in advance, and participants are encouraged to review it before the live sessions.
- Participants can access all content for 3 months after its release.
- Workshop registration also includes access to all other training materials on the Research Animal Training (RAT) website.
Interactivity
- Pre-recorded seminars and e-learning modules will be available on www.researchanimaltraining.com, while live sessions will be conducted via the Teams webinar platform.
- Interactive elements will be supported using Mentimeter (mentimeter.com).
- While not required, participants may find it helpful to have a smartphone or tablet in addition to a laptop for the interactive sessions.
Workshop Programme
- Understanding stress, distress, pain, and suffering – An introduction to these key concepts and their relevance in assessing animal welfare.
- Why and how we assess animal welfare – A review of the evolution of welfare assessment methods, with an up-to-date summary applicable across multiple species.
- Severity assessment, scoresheets, and humane endpoints – Guidance on evaluating procedure severity, including cumulative severity, and setting humane endpoints to minimise negative impacts.
- Reducing and preventing pain, suffering, and distress – Applying welfare knowledge to effectively minimise pain and distress in research animals.
- Interactive sessions on positive and negative welfare – Live sessions building on e-learning content, allowing participants to refine research techniques, with extensive opportunities for Q&A and discussion.
Participant numbers are limited to ensure interactive sessions remain engaging and effective.
Make best practice your everyday practice and sign up today.