Animal Origin
1.1Supplier selection
The Atlantic halibut (Scophthalmus maximus) used in this project will be sourced from certified aquaculture suppliers with proven breeding records and robust animal health protocols, ensuring the availability of healthy, disease-free laboratory specimens. Prior to procurement, we conduct thorough evaluations of suppliers' farming environments, water quality management systems, and disease prevention measures to guarantee that all purchased fish meet strict experimental requirements.
1.2Transport and adaptation
During fish transportation, we strictly adhere to animal welfare standards by using specialized equipment and optimal conditions to ensure their health and safety throughout the journey. Upon arrival at the laboratory, fish are given an acclimatization period to adapt to the environment. Throughout this phase, we closely monitor their well-being to guarantee they are in peak condition before experimental procedures commence.
Professional Support Team
2.1Veterinary support
The project team is supported by professional veterinary experts. These veterinarians will be involved throughout the entire process, including experimental design, animal health monitoring, and procedure execution to ensure the welfare of laboratory animals. Regular health checkups will be conducted to promptly identify and address potential health issues, guaranteeing smooth progress of all research activities.
2.2Animal Caregivers
The project team consists of experienced animal caretakers who have undergone professional training and are well-versed in fish husbandry management and disease prevention. These professionals will oversee daily operations including water quality monitoring, feed distribution, and environmental sanitation to ensure experimental animals maintain proper living conditions.
2.3Ethical oversight
This project strictly adheres to animal experiment ethics principles by establishing an Ethics Supervision Group responsible for monitoring animal welfare during experiments. The group will conduct regular reviews of experimental protocols and procedures to ensure ethical use of laboratory animals, thereby minimizing unnecessary animal usage and suffering.
Use and Management of Laboratory Animals
3.1Minimize animal use
In our experimental design, we optimized the protocol and employed advanced statistical methods to minimize animal usage. By fully utilizing data from each subject, we enhanced research efficiency. Through preliminary experiments and literature reviews, we precisely calculated required animal quantities, ensuring maximum reduction of animal use while meeting all experimental requirements.
3.1Minimize animal use
Throughout the experiment, we will strictly adhere to the "3R" principles (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) to ensure the welfare of laboratory animals. Their living environments will undergo regular cleaning and disinfection to maintain hygiene and comfort. Additionally, we will provide suitable water quality, temperature control, and lighting conditions to minimize stress responses in fish.
Compliance with International Regulations
This project strictly complies with the relevant provisions of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code formulated by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), especially Article 7.8.3, which clearly embodies the "3R" principle.
In addition,Our project complies with the relevant provisions of the new EU Directive 2010/60/EC on the protection of laboratory animals. The Directive specifies the 3Rs principles in Article 1 and emphasizes the importance of laboratory animal welfare and ethical review in several clauses