Institutional animal care committee

Each year, the CRCHUM provides an overview of the scientific activities involving animals on its premises, for the period from January 1^st to December 31^st.

Some data on animals for the year 2022

Which types of animals are used in research?

At CRCHUM, 62,312 animals were involved in 124 research and educational protocols in 2022.

Large species represent less than 0.1% of these animals, rodents 79% and fish 20.9%.

How were animals involved in the research and educational protocols?

The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) is the national organization responsible for the development, implementation and oversight of the highest standards of animal ethics and care in science in Canada.

It classifies the use of animals in science into five categories of invasive techniques, labelled A to E. These categories are based on a preventive approach and their assignment is based on the intensity of pain or distress that the animals might experience.

These projects are divided into five of the CRCHUM’s six research areas:

1. Cancer: 25 protocols
2. Cardiometabolic: 31 protocols
3. Immunopathology: 27 protocols
4. Neuroscience: 19 protocols
5. Imaging and engineering: 9 protocols

And 13 protocols in the animal facility protocol.

What are the objectives for using animals in CRCHUM research?

The CCAC outlines five different categories of objectives for use. This latter describes the reason for which the animal was used for a scientific study.

Each animal used in the context of a protocol in a facility certified by the CCAC is first classified into a single objective for use.

Objective 1: Basic research

Close to 95.2% of the animals were used for basic scientific studies of essential physiological structures or functions.

Objective 2: Human medical and veterinary research

0.8% of the animals were used for medical studies, particularly in the field of veterinary medicine, concerning diseases or conditions in humans or animals.

Objective 3: Regulatory testing

Health Canada requires that medical research be conducted on animals before clinical trials are conducted with humans.

No animal was used for testing of products for human or animal safety, or environmental protection.

Objective 4: Development of medical devices or products

0.8% of animals were used for the development of products or devices for human or veterinary medicine.

Objective 5: Education and training

3.2% of the animals were used to teach the scientific concepts necessary for the acquisition of knowledge and for training aimed at perfecting specialized technical skills.