Research involving animal experiments at the BNITM

„Procedures or treatments carried out on animals for experimental purposes, where these may involve pain, suffering or harm to the animals“ are defined as animal experiments under the German Animal Welfare Act."

The BNITM is dedicated to research, teaching, training, further education and professional development, as well as consultancy and healthcare in the field of tropical diseases and emerging infectious diseases. The focus is on diseases such as malaria, worm infections and other parasitic diseases, as well as infections caused by arboviruses and haemorrhagic fever viruses, and the development of new diagnostic tools. Basic research enables us to gain new insights into the complex biology of pathogens and the disease processes that occur within the host’s body. This is an absolute prerequisite for developing or improving potential drugs and therapies.

The BNITM supports research into 3D organoid models and aims to utilise alternative methods within its own laboratories. Unfortunately, alternative methods that mimic the complex biological interactions are currently available only to a very limited extent. Consequently, in some areas of our research, there remains a need to carry out animal experiments.

The graphic illustrates the necessity of animal testing using the image of a purple tree. There are five branches in total: starting at the bottom left with a blue schematic image of a virus, accompanied by the caption "Research into diseases and improvement of treatments." Above this is the safety testing of active substances, depicted by two pills and a test tube. At the top center is the protection of humans and animals, represented by the symbol of two opening hands from which a butterfly is taking flight. To the right, the study of bodily functions is indicated by an image of a torso skeleton. At the bottom right, the fifth point represents education and training, illustrated by books and a doctor's bag.

Overview of the necessity of animal experiments ©tierversuche-verstehen.de

Areas of application for animal experimentation

Grafik, die zeigt, in welchen Anwendungsgebieten Tierversuche stattfinden: Gifttigkeit, Immunologie, Forschung Erbmaterial, Chirurgie, Veterinärmedizin, Neurowissenschaft

Übersicht über die Anwendungsgebiete von Tierversuchen. ©tierversuche-verstehen.de | DFG

Areas of application at BNITM 2024

In Germany, animal experiments are carried out in the fields of toxicology, immunology, genetic research, surgery, veterinary medicine and the neurosciences. Animal experiments to develop and test biological weapons, ammunition or other military equipment are not permitted, nor are animal experiments for the development of tobacco products, detergents and cosmetics.

At BNITM, we use animal experiments primarily in the field of immunological and translational infection research and only to a limited extent for other experimental purposes.

4 charts covering the years 2022–2025: pie charts providing an overview of the percentages of experimental purposes at the BNITM. Experiments are shown by percentage in descending order of frequency: basic research, translational/applied research (human infectious diseases), other basic research, routine production, and training.

Areas of animal-based research at the BNITM (2022–2025) ©BNITM

Stress levels for animals used in research

Nevertheless, Section 7 of the German Animal Welfare Act permits certain exceptions to this principle. To this end, researchers must be able to justify the purposes of their experiments on ethical grounds and demonstrate that they minimise the expected pain, harm and suffering as far as possible.

So-called levels of distress help to assess planned experiments in advance with regard to pain, suffering or harm, thereby facilitating the search for less distressing alternatives.

A detailed description of the levels of distress can be found on the website of the ‘Tierversuche verstehen’ initiative under the FAQs (point 12, German only).

At the BNITM, experiments carried out are mainly those classified as causing low levels of distress. No significant impairment to the welfare of the experimental animals is to be expected. Minor pain, suffering or anxiety, if any, is caused only for a short period. Experiments in which moderate levels of distress are to be expected take place only to a limited extent, whilst those involving severe levels of distress do not take place at all.