Patient Involvement in an All-inclusive Societal Approach to Ani­mal Research Ethics, Policy and Oversight

In most countries, including Switzerland, all non-human animal-based experiments are submitted to animal experimentation oversight bodies to evaluate their scientific relevance relative to animal welfare concerns (harm-benefit analysis) and decide whether they should proceed. Within the framework of the harm-benefit analysis (HBA), animal research may thus be justified by legitimate interests of society, in particular, human medical and healthcare advancement. However, patients, who are generally cited as the end beneficiaries of biomedical research using animals, have had little say in animal research ethics, policy, regulation, and the licensing of animal research projects. This project aims to understand and ethically analyse the current decision-making process and decision criteria of the HBA. It also aims to identify legitimate decision criteria from a diverse stakeholder perspective, including people affected by health conditions. Finally, it aims to explore patient and public involvement (PPI) as a notion in animal research endeavours to clarify the decision criteria. The project uses mixed methods: first, a comprehensive analysis of the literature to understand and analyse the current decision-making process, followed by the use of a combination of quantitative and qualitative (online surveys with qualitative components and focus groups) methodologies to collect novel data from diverse stakeholders (scientists, patients, students, the general public and members of oversight bodies) in Swiss society. Since limited openness about animal research evaluation is believed to undermine public trust, this research will create awareness by bringing the discussion about animal research to Swiss society. In effect, clarifying decision criteria by involving diverse groups of stakeholders will increase public trust in the regulation and evaluation of animal research. Finally, exploring the aspects of patients’ involvement in oversight bodies will push the boundaries of PPI in preclinical research and contribute to the public debate about the legitimacy of animal research, paving the way for more societally acceptable and agreeable policies regarding animal experimentation.