Animal Testing Ethics Committee (CEEA)
The Ethical Committee for Animal Experimentation (CEEA) is the body responsible for ensuring the welfare of animals used at the La Fe Health Research Institute (IIS La Fe). It arises from the necessity as a user center of experimental animals as stated in Article 37 of RD 53/2013 of February 1, which establishes the basic rules applicable to the protection of animals used in experimentation and other scientific purposes, including teaching.
Additionally, this committee is also authorized to evaluate projects involving the use of experimental animals.
As such, the CEEA constantly ensures compliance with current legislation on animal experimentation and advises on the procedures and regulatory framework for animal research and teaching at the IIS La Fe.
Main functions
The main functions of the CEEA are outlined in Article 38 of RD 53/2013, which establishes the basic rules applicable to the protection of animals used in experimentation and other scientific purposes, including teaching, namely:
- Advising personnel responsible for animals on issues related to animal welfare regarding their acquisition, housing, care, and use.
- Advising personnel on the application of the replacement, reduction, and refinement requirement and keeping them informed of technical and scientific advances in the application of this requirement.
- Establishing and reviewing internal operating processes regarding control, communication, and monitoring of information related to animal welfare.
- Ensuring the use of humane euthanasia methods.
- Ensuring that personnel involved in procedures are prepared to carry out the assigned tasks.
- Reviewing already evaluated procedures or suspending any procedure already initiated that does not comply with the requirements established in the protocol.
- Advising on rehousing or adoption schemes, including appropriate socialization of animals to be rehoused or adopted.
- For users, it will also prepare the report referred to in Article 33.1 and monitor projects considering their effect on the animals used, as well as determining and evaluating the elements that best contribute to replacement, reduction, and refinement.
Structure
This body is composed of various profiles such as the Responsible for Animal Welfare and the Designated Veterinarian of the IIS La Fe; research staff of the IIS La Fe specialized in various animal models as well as basic and translational research; staff specialized in biostatistics, risk prevention, and biosafety; as well as personnel with veterinary and welfare knowledge both internal and external to the institution.
Its structure is:
President:
Director of Research at IIS La Fe.
Vice President:
Principal Investigator. Experimental Hepatology and Liver Transplant Unit.
Secretary:
Research Biologist, Animal Facility.
Members:
- Responsible for Animal Welfare and Veterinarian designated by IIS La Fe.
- Animal Facility Veterinarian.
- Researcher. Vascular Brain Research Joint Unit.
- Biostatistician. Big Data, Biostatistics, and Bioinformatics Platform.
- External Researcher to IIS La Fe. Principal Investigator, Experimental Metabolomic Pathology, CSIC.
- Prevention Manager at IIS La Fe.
- Administrative Management Manager at IIS La Fe.
All research projects involving the use of laboratory animals must receive a favorable evaluation from CEEA La Fe before their implementation and communication or request for prior and express authorization from the competent authority.