A MASSEY University veterinarian is the first winner of the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) Three Rs Award.
Associate Professor Alex Davies was honoured for his contribution to the humane use of animals in science through the reduction, refinement and replacement of the use of animals - the so-called "Three Rs".
"Dr Davies has developed computer-based programmes that have substantially reduced the number of animals used for dissection during the training of veterinary students," NZVKs animal welfare spokesperson Dr Virginia Williams explained.
"He has pioneered techniques such as interactive software, computer graphics and animations, and a Veterinary Virtual Museum. Dr Davies exemplifies the role the veterinarian can play in reducing and replacing the use of animals in science. The award is well deserved," she said.
Many other veterinarians are also involved in implementing the Three Rs. At organisations conducting research, testing and teaching with animals require an Animal Ethics Committee, and each committee has a veterinarian nominated by the NZVA.
"These veterinarians have a professional commitment to promoting the welfare of animals. They are concerned to reduce the numbers of animals used, to replace live animals with alternatives wherever possible, and to refine experimental procedures to reduce suffering through, for example, the appropriate use of anaesthesia and pain relief," Dr Williams said.
Dr Davies' award was presented at the ANZCCART conference in Christchurch in August.
Dr Williams says the conference generally acknowledged that the research community could do more to inform the public about the use of animals in science. "For example, there is a requirement for animals used in research to receive the same sort of pain relief that is used for human and veterinary patients undergoing painful procedures," she says.
"Another suggestion from the conference was that the statistics of animals used to be separated into the three categories - research, testing and teaching. This would demonstrate that it's in the area of testing rather than research where most animal suffering occurs.
"Regulatory requirements for the batch testing of vaccines, or toxicity testing for marine biotoxins for instance, do not allow for pain relief. Breakdown of the figures would clarify this," she said.
