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BfR
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Annual Report 2015
84
Professor Schönfelder, what does the work of the “Ger-
man Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals”
(Bf3R) involve?
The Bf3R is the only governmental institution of its kind in
the world and is entrusted with stepping up research into
alternative methods as well as advising authorities and
scientific institutions on this issue. It promotes research
projects to advance the development of alternative meth-
ods on both national and international level, and informs
both the public and the scientific community about top-
ics in the area of animal welfare relating to laboratory
animals. ZEBET and the National Committee for the Pro-
tection of Laboratory Animals are now areas of compe-
tence at the Bf3R.
Why was it necessary to create the Bf3R?
There is widespread interest in society in limiting animal
experiments. Some people are even calling for the com-
plete banning of these experiments. Despite this, the
The Department of Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET at the BfR has already been working on alternative
methods to animal experiments for many years. The founding of the German Centre for the Protection of
Laboratory Animals (Bf3R) in 2015 signalled even more intensive research into alternative methods. The
Centre coordinates all activities in Germany aimed at reducing animal experiments to an absolute minimum
and offering the best possible protection to laboratory animals. The Bf3R was created within the framework
of the initiative entitled “A Question of Attitude – New Ways to Improve Animal Welfare” and launched by the
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. The work of the Centre inspires research activities all over the world
and facilitates scientific dialogue. In this interview, department head Professor Dr. Gilbert Schönfelder talks
about the remit and goals of the Bf3R and what it has achieved to date.
Alternatives to
Animal Experiments
number of laboratory animals used in basic research has
still not fallen to any great degree. A further argument in
support of more intensive research into alternative meth-
ods is the current debate as to which animal experiments
enable us to draw conclusions regarding certain process-
es in humans, thereby paving the way for the development
of medical therapy concepts. Then there are the efforts
to develop models which possibly supply more robust re-
sults, such as 3D models of organs made from human
cells. All these aspects together outline the need to en-
sure better protection of laboratory animals. This does
not mean that animal experiments should be completely
prohibited. Wherever they are indispensable, it will still be
necessary to conduct these experiments until suitable al-
ternative methods have been developed.
Why is this further development only taking place now?
ZEBET was set up back at the end of the 1980s, and
the situation then was totally different. We shouldn't for-
get that the review of safety has only been stipulated in
the German Medicines Act since the early 1970s – in re-
sponse to the “thalidomide scandal”. In the endeavour
to ensure the safety of medicines and other products,
the focus was initially on animal experiments as the most
suitable method. Even back then, some organisations
were demanding that animal experiments be restricted
and laboratory animals be protected as effectively as
possible. At that time, however, science was not suf-
ficiently advanced to provide answers to the pressing
questions. The Centre we now have is the only entity of
its kind in Europe: Germany is the only country with an
official centre for the protection of laboratory animals
Interview with
head of department
Professor Dr.
Gilbert Schönfelder