Abstract
Scientific excellence is a necessity for progress in biomedical research. As research becomes ever more international, establishing international collaborations will be key to advancing our scientific knowledge. Understanding the similarities in standards applied by different nations to animal research, and where the differences might lie, is crucial. Cultural differences and societal values will also contribute to these similarities and differences between countries and continents. Our overview is not comprehensive for all species, but rather focuses on non-human primate (NHP) research, involving New World marmosets and Old World macaques, conducted in countries where NHPs are involved in neuroimaging research. Here, an overview of the ethics and regulations is provided to help assess welfare standards amongst primate research institutions. A comparative examination of these standards was conducted to provide a basis for establishing a common set of standards for animal welfare. These criteria may serve to develop international guidelines, which can be managed by an International Animal Welfare and Use Committee (IAWUC). Internationally, scientists have a moral responsibility to ensure excellent care and welfare of their animals, which in turn, influences the quality of their research. When working with animal models, maintaining a high quality of care (“culture of care”) and welfare is essential. The transparent promotion of this level of care and welfare, along with the results of the research and its impact, may reduce public concerns associated with animal experiments in neuroscience research.
Highlights
International collaborations are critical to rapidly advance scientific endeavours, as evidenced by successful international collaborations developed in response to coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19)
International collaboration can sometimes be hindered by national differences in welfare standards governing the use of non-human primates (NHPs)
Agreeing upon, acceptable common ethical and welfare standards used in NHP neuroscience research is necessary to support the researchers involved and to begin establishing vital international collaborations
Summary
International collaborations are critical to rapidly advance scientific endeavours, as evidenced by successful international collaborations developed in response to coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19). We believe that determining what are acceptable common standards, which do not compromise the welfare and care for the animals, nor scientific ethics, especially as applied to NHP neuroimaging research, will help establish international guidelines. Many advances in our understanding of brain function have resulted from the use of animal models and through the sharing of research outcomes, involving many species of animals, including NHPs. For example, NHP animal models helped develop successful treatments for amblyopia, which affects 4% of children around the world (Kiorpes, 2019) as well as effective treatments for Parkinson’s disease, which affects about 1-in-500 people over the age of 50 years living in the UK (for review see Goldberg, 2019). Preventing strictly regulated international collaborations in the future would only be a step backwards for both advancing standards of animal welfare and care, and our scientific endeavors
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