Designing and conducting responsible, robust studies

At IERP, these considerations are incorporated from the feasibility stage and throughout the project.

→ Ask about project feasibility or requirements

Animal welfare built into the project

Animal welfare is considered in procedure design, monitoring arrangements, animal observation and the development of practices.

The aim is to limit unnecessary burdens, adapt monitoring points to the model and procedure, and detect changes requiring adjustments to care or the protocol as early as possible.

Applying the 3Rs in practice

The principles of the 3Rs, Replacement, Reduction and Refinement, guide experimental planning.

Depending on the project, this can involve:

• assessing the model’s relevance before committing
• optimising experimental design
• using longitudinal monitoring where it improves the use of data obtained from the same animal
• using functional phenotyping methods that reduce selected sampling requirements or enable repeated measurements
• adapting procedures and monitoring criteria
• developing new methods when they provide scientific or refinement benefits

A dedicated animal welfare body

IERP has its own dedicated animal welfare body (SBEA).

Projects requiring authorisation undergo ethical review by the competent committee, COMETHEA, as part of the application to the competent authority.

IERP can help partners prepare and draft regulatory documentation. Scientific responsibility remains with the partner, except where IERP is directly involved as a scientific project partner.

The team also contributes to project-related ethical processes and continuous improvement of practices.

Trained and authorised staff

Staff working with animals are trained and authorised for the activities they perform. Additional skills are maintained according to facility and procedure requirements.

This organisation combines animal husbandry expertise, model knowledge, biosafety and competence in experimental procedures.

Quality, traceability and biosafety

Activities are based on an internal quality approach, animal and operation traceability, and organisation adapted to biosafety constraints. IERP has held ISO 14001 certification since March 2024 and is part of an environmental management system.

Projects requiring containment are assessed against available capabilities. IERP has A2 capabilities for rodents and fish.

Information required to assess projects involving biological agents or genetically modified models is reviewed during scoping, with handling appropriate to its sensitivity.

Approvals and institutional framework

IERP is an INRAE research infrastructure and holds the authorisations required for its activities.

IERP can host and carry out projects involving class 1 or 2 GMOs, subject to compatibility with the available facilities and applicable regulatory framework.

IERP labels, networks and partnerships are presented on the dedicated Networks, labels and partnerships page.

Confidentiality and sensitive information

Partner enquiries can be handled confidentially. A confidentiality agreement can be established when necessary.

An approach that evolves with methods

IERP develops its practices in response to knowledge, experience, staff training and new monitoring and functional phenotyping methods.

Internal work aims to improve individual and behavioural monitoring of fish, including through image analysis and artificial intelligence approaches.

→ Discover IERP