Developing ethics training for laboratory animal users

Consideration of ethical aspects should be an integral part of training for all laboratory animal users, but it is sometimes difficult to decide what exactly this component of training should encompass and/or how it should be approached. A particular question is how to make ethics training more relevant and applicable to the day-to-day work of researchers. This paper briefly summarises thoughts on how ethics training can best be approached, bearing these questions in mind. Although the specific issues are approached in the context of the UK modular training system, the broad principles are applicable to ethics training in any country. The importance of ensuring that ethics training is practically focused and takes place at an early stage in a scientist's education and career is emphasised.