Applicants are expected to have developed their proposals in accordance with the cross-funder guidance for the use of animals in research: responsibility in the use of animals in bioscience research and NC3Rs guidelines: primate accommodation, care and use.
Experiments using animals funded by the MRC must comply with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), amended 2012 and any further embodiments, in:
- using the simplest possible, or least sentient, species of animal appropriate
- ensuring that distress and pain are avoided wherever possible
- employing an appropriate design and using the minimum number of animals consistent with ensuring that scientific objectives will be met.
Advice on opportunities and techniques for implementing these principles including the Experiment Design Assistant can be found on the NC3Rs website.