Frequently asked questions

No procedures on animals covered by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) have been carried out at The Open University site since 2023 and the University has relinquished its Establishment Licence. Open University staff who would like to carry out work that involves animals should speak to their Head of School about the opportunity to pursue such work at another establishment.

In the past, the number of animals used varied considerably between years, as it depended on the projects that were being undertaken, which in turn depended on the availability of grant funding.

Researchers collaborated as much as possible so as to share the benefits of, for example, tissue extracted from a single animal.

The numbers between 2014 and 2023 were as follows:

There were a range of procedures including:

• Breeding and maintaining animals, including genetically modified animals, that model human diseases
• Use of different diets, or food restriction, to examine how this affects ageing and other processes
• The administration of substances such as drugs so as to observe their effects on behaviour or metabolism
• The extraction of tissue and/or cells, including blood, for subsequent biochemical, cytological or genetic analysis
• Aseptic surgery from which the animals recover
• Aseptic surgery, including perfusion for tissue collection, from which the animals do not recover 

No procedures requiring an Establishment Licence have been carrired at any Open University (OU) site since 2023. OU researchers may be involved with licensed procedures through a host institution. Animal Ehtics Committee (AE) has oversight of all OU research involving animals, including that being conducted elsewhere.

For some procedures the animals had to be killed humanely before the procedure; for example, tissue extraction from the gut or brain. However, for some research, such as the effect of diet, or of drugs on behaviour, the animals had to be alive. The animals were closely monitored and if they showed signs of pain and distress they were killed humanely.

Any animals still alive at the end of a project would normally have been killed humanely unless they could be used for other projects. Laboratory animals were re-homed where possible.

The University sometimes bred mice and rats. If and when other animals were needed, these were supplied by reputable licenced suppliers who were committed to animal welfare and ethics. Since relinquishing it Establishment Licence, Open University (OU) researchers have the option to carry out animal research at another host institution and no animals are bred or kept on OU premisis.