How to maintain an effectice research program

Abstract

The discussion centered initially on the possibilities for and limitations of performing laboratory animal science research in the central animal units (CAU). Many such units are very small, often with only one or a few scientifically qualified member/s. It was agreed upon the necessity ofa minimum ”critical mass” of qualified people for the unit to be able to successfully conduct research and develop work within the field of laboratory animal science. It was pointed out, however, that it is necessary also for the small CAUs to get started, at whatever modest scale, to work and produce some publishable results, and thus slowly grow on their own merits. This was backed up by the firm belief that the laboratory animal scientists
should be able/allowed to contribute to the advancement of knowledge. Implicit in this is that it is vital for the development of the CAUs to have resources e.g. space, for research of their own.
Next to be discussed was the publication strategies within the CAUs. It was agreed upon that the scientific as well as the technical staff of the CAU could be co-authors on any publication arising as a result of work being done in the CAU. This  should, however, be based upon an active scientific contribution from the CAU member, such as being an active part in the planning of the experimental series and/or contributing actively to its conduct. It must be remembered that a CAU, from the point of view of scientists in general, is a service unit, similar to other kinds of service laboratories.

Finally it was emphasised that the director of a CAU has considerable ethical obligations, covering all the work being done on animals in the unit. This could also mean that ”negative” results or problems arising in a particular project e.g. the modifying effect of an intercurrent infection on experimental results, might be turned into useful information for the field of laboratory animal science.