Policy on research involving laboratory animals
Longfonds adheres to established guidelines when funding and supporting scientific research. Longfonds is a member of the Vereniging Fondsenwervende Instellingen (VFI) (in Dutch), the Dutch association for charitable fundraising organisations, and endorses its guidelines. In addition, scientific research in the Netherlands is subject to national guidelines. Longfonds has used these guidelines as the basis for its policy on scientific research involving animals.
Longfonds does not conduct research itself but funds scientific research. Only a proportion of the research we fund involves animals. Primary responsibility for the responsible use of animals in research and for identifying suitable alternatives lies with the researchers themselves. As a general principle, Longfonds opposes the unnecessary use of animals in research and only funds research involving animals when no suitable alternatives are available.
Legal requirements
Longfonds takes a cautious approach to funding research involving animals and complies with applicable legislation and international agreements. For all research proposals involving animals, Longfonds requires applicants to provide the necessary approval from the relevant Animal Ethics Committee (Dierexperimentencommissie, DEC). Research funding will only be released once the required approval has been received. Longfonds is committed to transparency and is available to provide further information about its policy on animal research.
Joint policy
A shared position and policy on animal research has been developed by the Samenwerkende Gezondheidsfondsen (SGF) (in Dutch), a collaboration of 18 fundraising health organisations in the Netherlands. Read the SGF’s joint position and policy on animal research (in Dutch).
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