Questions and answers about animal research

At Karolinska Institutet, both basic research and research aimed at finding new and improving existing treatments are conducted for many different diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, MS, ALS, rheumatic diseases, metabolic diseases, among others. Much of the research uses animal-free systems such as mathematical modeling, cell culture systems, and “organ-on-chip” technologies. However, certain questions—especially within basic research and studies of complex disease processes and treatment methods—can only be answered using in vivo studies in laboratory animals.

At Karolinska Institutet, several different animal species are used in medical research. Which species is used depends on the research question and which animal species can experience the least possible suffering. Animal species used in experiments include zebrafish, lampreys, salamanders, mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, pigs, and monkeys. You can read more here about the research conducted in these species.

Animal research at KI

We have very high biosafety requirements for our laboratory animals. This means we must ensure that no pathogens enter our animal facilities since this would be devastating for research and dangerous for the health of the laboratory animals. For example, KI’s rodents are very sensitive because humans carry many pathogens that can be harmful to them. Therefore, the number of visitors to animal research facilities is limited. However, films and images from the facilities are published.

Since humans do not carry pathogens that are dangerous to fish, it is possible to visit the zebrafish core facility where biomedical research on zebrafish is conducted. The facility is open to the public once per year during Nobel Calling Week in October. There is also some, although limited, opportunity to visit the facility outside Nobel Calling Week—contact: zebrafish-office@km.ki.se.

At KI, monkeys (macaques) are used in animal experiments only when no other methods can be used. Macaques are closely related to humans and are therefore also the most intelligent laboratory animals used in research. KI takes great care with the animals’ living environment, and animal welfare is carefully considered in all decisions. Macaques become stressed in new environments and by new objects in their environment, and it can take a long time for the animals to adjust. Therefore, visits to the macaques are very limited. 

More information about the visit policy at our animal facilities can be found here.

The number of laboratory animals used in experiments varies from year to year, but there is a trend that the number of rodents used in biomedical research at KI is decreasing while the number of zebrafish is increasing. This is part of KI’s work to reduce, refine, and replace animal experiments (3R). The number of laboratory animals used is reported once per year to the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

Swedish legislation sets high requirements for how laboratory animals must be housed. All laboratory animals at KI are kept in specific rooms or similar that meet legal requirements for, for example, humidity, temperature, and lighting regulation. Before laboratory animals may be housed in these rooms, they must be inspected and approved by the Swedish Board of Agriculture and, in some cases, other authorities such as the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management for aquatic animals.

All laboratory animals are housed in a way that meets their natural needs, such as opportunities to build nests, be active, and live in groups where appropriate. During experiments, laboratory animals may need to be housed differently, but this must then be scientifically justified by the researcher responsible for the experiment. A regional animal ethics committee has assessed and approved the housing of the animals before they may begin.

3R stands for replace: replacing animal experiments where scientifically possible; refine: refining animal experiments, for example by improving experimental design or minimizing stress for the animals; and reduce: minimizing the number of laboratory animals used without compromising the quality of scientific results.

All animal experiments are reviewed by several different actors:

• Before a principal investigator can submit an animal ethics application, a review is conducted by an approved officer (NACWO – Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer), a laboratory animal veterinarian at the facility, and a representative from animal technical staff.
• A regional animal ethics committee reviews all animal ethics applications and approves or rejects them. The committee consists of researchers, laymen, representatives of animal rights organizations, and a judge.
• The Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer conducts regular quality controls in all animal houses. If needed, the laboratory animal veterinarian and animal technical staff also participate.
• The supervisory authority (the County Administrative Board) conducts regular inspections of all animal facilities at Karolinska Institutet.

All laboratory animals come from approved breeders or are bred within KI or at other research laboratories. No animals used in biomedical research at KI are wild-caught.

To be allowed to use animals in research, species-specific theoretical and practical training must be completed. The theoretical training includes, among other things, ethical principles related to animal experiments, relevant legislation, reporting of animal experiments, species-specific experimental planning, basic biology, anatomy, and physiology. The practical training is also species-specific and teaches students to handle laboratory animals, perform various procedures, and humanely euthanize laboratory animals. In addition to basic training, there are requirements for participation in continuous training, maintenance of competencies, and 3R (replace, refine, reduce), which can occur in various ways, for example through seminars and practical training.

The content of the training is regulated by Swedish legislation. At KI, there is a dedicated unit for training in laboratory animal science.

At KI’s laboratory animal facilities, laboratory animals are cared for by highly specialized animal caretakers, laboratory animal technicians, and researchers. What they all have in common is an ethical approach and an understanding of the needs of research. Those who work with animal experiments place great emphasis on treating the animals with care and respect.

At KI, there are four laboratory animal veterinarians, all of whom hold a Swedish veterinary licenses and are specialized in laboratory animals. They help plan animal experiments, monitor animal experiments, and are available to staff and researchers both during office hours and on weekends.

It is the responsibility of the permit holder to ensure that good animal welfare is maintained and that all laboratory animal activities take place within the framework of Swedish legislation. At KI, the permit holder is supported by the Named Animal Care and Welfare Officer who conducts regular quality controls in all animal houses, as well as laboratory animal veterinarians who are regularly present in the animal facilities.

In addition, there is a local animal welfare body responsible for ensuring that good animal welfare is maintained and that welfare for laboratory animals is continuously improved. The animal welfare body organizes seminars and conferences on animal welfare and develops recommendations regarding, for example, housing of laboratory animals. 

For more information, see: KI Animal welfare body at KI campus Solna