The Pirbright Institute is a world leading centre of excellence in research and surveillance of viral diseases of livestock, including zoonotic viral diseases. The use of animals in this research is essential given the complexity of the host / virus interactions.
Given the nature of the Institute’s research, some of the animal facilities are of a high containment nature, designed to protect the environment from the pathogens being used within. The restricted access of these facilities, with additional controls on entry and exit, contributed to an historic lack of openness. However, since signing the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research in 2014, the Institute has implemented innovative steps to improve transparency across the organisation.
This session will explore the different approaches the Institute has used to promote openness internally to staff. This has included booking tours of animal facilities, newsletters, staff inductions to improve awareness of Pirbright’s animal research and the Director’s blog on the Institute’s position on animal research.
Last edited: 18 May 2026 10:53
