The Animal Experimentation Unit (UdEA-CICA) of the University of A Coruña (UDC) was established to support research involving animal experimentation, providing services to research groups within the university as well as to public and private institutions.

The Unit operates a conventional Type I animal facility, equipped with infrastructure and resources that enable the housing and handling of different animal models under controlled conditions. These facilities support the development of preclinical studies and experimental models applied to biomedical, pharmacological, and biotechnological research.

Its main activities include the maintenance and monitoring of laboratory animals, as well as the provision of services for a wide range of experimental procedures.

UdEA works in close coordination with the UDC Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee (CEEA), which is responsible for the evaluation and oversight of projects involving the use of animals:

 

 

COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY

With the aim of strengthening their commitment to transparency and scientific communication, the University of A Coruña (UDC) and the Interdisciplinary Centre for Chemistry and Biology (CICA) have joined the Agreement on Transparency in Animal Research in Spain, promoted by the Confederation of Scientific Societies of Spain (COSCE).

This initiative seeks to foster open and responsible communication between the scientific community and society by providing clear information on the use of animals in research, the reasons justifying their use, the conditions under which these studies are conducted, and the contributions this research makes to advancing scientific knowledge and developing new strategies to improve health and well-being.

By joining this agreement, the UDC and CICA undertake to promote greater transparency regarding research involving the use of animals by providing accurate and accessible information and encouraging dialogue based on scientific rigour, respect for animal welfare, and compliance with current regulations.

The Agreement includes four commitments relating to transparency in animal research:

• To communicate clearly about when, how, and why animals are used in research.
• To provide the media and the general public with appropriate information about the conditions under which research requiring the use of animal models is carried out and the results obtained from it.
• To promote initiatives that increase public knowledge and understanding of the use of animals in scientific research.
• To report annually on progress and share experiences.

Read the COSCE Transparency Agreement