Openness Conference: Communicating the continued need for animal research
9-10 June 2026
West Midlands, UK
The Openness Conference 2026 is your chance to hear about best practices and innovations in openness in animal research, directly from those working in this area.
We are delighted to bring together a wide range of presentations, workshops and posters from scientific communicators, researchers, technical staff, and policymakers supporting openness. The conference is designed for anyone involved with the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research in the UK, or similar openness agreements elsewhere in the world. We hope the conference will be an opportunity for you to engage with experts and learn new skills to help you embed change within your organisation.
We look forward to seeing you in June!
Register here
Registration fees
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Early bird registration for 2-day conference |
£345 |
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Standard registration for 2-day conference |
£400 |
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Conference accommodation based on 1 night bed and breakfast |
£150 |
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Conference dinner including entertainment |
£60 |
Key dates
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Registration opens |
February 2026 |
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Early-bird registration ends |
31 March 2026 |
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Registration closes |
25 May 2026 |
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Openness Conference |
9-10 June 2026 |
Poster submissions open
To submit a poster, please complete the following online form.
Poster submissions
Stay informed on conference news
Sign up for the Openness in Animal Research conference mailing list to receive conference updates and news.
Programme
Tuesday 9 June 2026 |
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08:00 |
Registration and exhibition open |
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09:20 |
Introduction |
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09:30 |
Keynote Lord Patrick Vallance - Minister of State (Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear) |
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10:00
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The future of openness agreements Strengthening Transparency: Engaging Signatories and the Public in New Zealand’s Openness Agreement Ian Saldanha - Australia & New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART NZ), Australia
Contributing to a Culture Change: Portugal’s Journey Towards a Transparent and Responsible Animal Research Ana Isabel Santos - NOVA Medical School, Portugal
The German Transparency Agreement: Five years in, reflections and the road ahead Jana Wilken - Initiative Tierversuche verstehen, Germany
Toward Transparency: The U.S. Animal Research Openness (USARO) Initiative & Agreement Paula Clifford - Americans for Medical Progress, USA |
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11:15 |
Morning Break |
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11:45
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Embedding the 3Rs in public engagement: Approaches, opportunities and impact |
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13:00 |
Lunch |
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14:00 |
Workshops Science writing for lay audiences: non-technical summaries and retrospective assessments Wendy Jarrett - Understanding Animal Research, UK
Advanced media training: workshop participant case studies in animal research Nuno Miguel Gonçalves - European Animal Research Association, UK
Talking about animal research on social media Mary Harvie and Victoria Summers - Understanding Animal Research, UK |
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15:15 |
Poster session |
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16:45 - 18:00 |
Workshops How to film inside a lab Jamie Yuan and Hannah Hobson - Understanding Animal Research, UK
Rising to the challenge: how to answer the most awkward animal research questions John Meredith - Understanding Animal Research, UK
Embracing Transparency in Animal Research Aimee Paterson - AstraZeneca, UK
Openness for AWERBs Ellie Muscat - RSPCA, UK |
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18:00 |
Break |
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19:00 |
Dinner, entertainment, and poster prize giving |
Wednesday 10 June 2026 |
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08:00 |
Registration and exhibition open |
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09:00 |
Keynote Wendy Jarrett - Chief Executive, Understanding Animal Research, UK |
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09:30 |
Opening Doors Beyond the Lab Tour: Using Spatial Computing and 'Dual-View' AR to Demystify Animal Facilities Mike Addelman - University of Manchester, UK
Pigment Experience: An Enriching Art Based Outreach Initiative to Enhance Public Understanding Chris Wiederhold - Laboratory Animal Resource Center - Indiana University, USA
From Classrooms to Cleanrooms: Bringing Students into the Research Animal World Scott Rhodes - University of Otago, USA
Breaking out of the Box: Our Approach to Openness in Australia’s High-Containment Animal Facility Sarah Riddell - Commonwealth and Scientific and Industrial Organisation, Australian Centre of Disease Preparedness, Australia
Opening the Doors: Practical Approaches to Openness in Animal Research Kirsty Kemp - MRC LMB, UK |
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11:00 |
Morning Break |
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11:30 |
Opportunities for two-way engagement Patient Discovery: Expanding patient-researcher dialogue in Europe Inês Serrenho - European Animal Research Association, UK
The Open Forum on Animal Research: an Attempt to Reduce Polarisation in the Netherlands Monique Sundin - European Animal Research Association, UK
Building Research Champions through Structured Educational Framework Cherry May Sanchez - Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, UK
It's good to talk: the Whitworth Debate as a model for constructive openness Mike Addelman - University of Manchester, UK
Cultivating Openness: Collaboration, Progress, and Shared Leadership in Animal Research at the University of Washington Sally Thompson-Iritani - University of Washington, USA |
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13:00 |
Lunch |
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14:00 - 15:30 |
Engagement with diverse audiences Transparency Agreements in Practice: The Open Week for Public Engagement Monique Sundin and Inês Serrenho - European Animal Research Association, UK
The Quarterly Creature Feature: Chronicling care, commitment and cutting-edge science Laura Cresser - The Pirbright Institute, UK
Beyond Breeding: strategic collaboration to anchor the Mauritian NHP Sector in scientific purpose Anupah Makoond - Bioculture Group, Mauritius
Engaging with the public at the Glasgow Science Festival Elizabeth Hurd – University of Glasgow, UK
UAR Oceania Animals in Science Photography Awards Bella Lear - Understanding Animal Research Oceania, Australia |
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15:30 |
Closing remarks |
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15:45 |
Close |
Sponsors of the Openness Conference 2026
