Topic: Housing

Use of animal models is pervasive across neuroscience research. Good quality research data is underpinned by good animal welfare, which can be achieved through methods of refinement. We have developed a framework that considers the lifetime experience of the laboratory animal and seeks to improve their welfare by targeting the 3Hs: Housing, Handling and Habituation.To promote natural behaviours both rats and mice are housed in highly enriched caging with sexually mature male mice housed individually to reduce social stress. Recognising the space restrictions of standard rodent caging, we also