Animal Ethics Committee (AEC)
The Murdoch Children's Research Institute's Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) is responsible for the consideration of projects under the following licences as issued by Animal Welfare Victoria: Murdoch Children's Research Institute and The Royal Children's Hospital.
The Animal Ethics Committee is constituted by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) Executive with the authority to approve and monitor all animal-based research at The Melbourne Children's Campus. The AEC is guided by the Terms of Reference provided by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute Executive Committee, such Terms being supported by legislative requirements.
In Victoria, the use of animals for research and teaching is regulated by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTA) and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2019 (POCTA).
Under the POCTA, the conduct of Scientific Procedures using animals in Victoria must be licensed by the regulating authority, Animal Welfare Victoria - Agriculture Victoria, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), and within the parameters prescribed by the current Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes. An obligation to respect animals underpins the code.
The AEC supports opportunities that promote the development and use of techniques to replace the use of animals in scientific and teaching activities, and, encourages staff to look to the refinement of methods and procedures.
MCRI is a signatory to the Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in Australia. Please visit the ANZZCART website to learn more.
Animal Ethics Committee Terms of Reference 2024250.48 KB250.48 KB (Review date July 2027)
"Animal welfare means how an animal is coping with the conditions in which it lives. An animal is in a good state of welfare if (as indicated by scientific evidence) it is healthy, comfortable, well nourished, safe, able to express innate behaviour, and if it is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, and distress.
Good animal welfare requires disease prevention and veterinary treatment, appropriate shelter, management, nutrition, humane handling and humane slaughter/killing. Animal welfare refers to the state of the animal; the treatment that an animal receives is covered by other terms such as animal care, animal husbandry, and humane treatment."
- Source: OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health)
Statement on Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching
At Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI), we commit to upholding transparency and openness regarding our preclinical research involving animals.
We believe in the ethical, humane and responsible use of small and large animal models for scientific purposes, ensuring the highest standards of care and welfare for these animals in our research endeavours.
MCRI's Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) is responsible for approving and monitoring all animal-based research at The Melbourne Children's Campus. All work complies with relevant Victorian Prevention of Cruelty to Animals legislation and regulations and the National Health and Medical Research Council's Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes.
We embrace the principles outlined in the ANZCCART Australia Openness Agreement and strive to conduct our animal research with integrity, respect and compassion.
As well as refining the animal models used in house in conjunction with the AEC, MCRI’s researchers are at the global forefront of human clinical trials and human stem cell technologies to reduce and replace animal experimentation wherever possible. We recently contributed evidence to a CSIRO report about the use of non-animal models to advance medical product development.
Our dedication to openness not only promotes trust and understanding within the community but also emphasises the importance of advancing medical knowledge for the betterment of children's health and well-being, to give every child the opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilled life.