Developing a Collaborative Agenda for Humanities and Social Scientific Research on Laboratory Animal Science and...

Area of Science:

• Interdisciplinary research at the intersection of life sciences, humanities, and social sciences.
• Focus on laboratory animal science and welfare, incorporating ethical and societal dimensions.

Background:

• Scientific research (e.g., the 3Rs: replace, reduce, refine) advances animal welfare but lacks integration with social sciences.
• Limited communication and differing research approaches between scientific and humanities/social science disciplines hinder progress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a collaborative research agenda for humanities and social sciences in laboratory animal science and welfare.
• To foster interdisciplinary dialogue and identify key research priorities at the science-policy interface.

Main Methods:

• Convened an interdisciplinary group of 45 experts (scientists, social scientists, humanities scholars, NGOs, policymakers).
• Employed a collaborative, deliberative approach for agenda-setting, including participant-submitted research questions and voting.
• Conducted an interactive workshop to discuss 136 submitted questions and identify 30 key research priorities.

Main Results:

• Generated a collaborative research agenda for humanities and social sciences focused on laboratory animal science and welfare.
• Identified 30 key research issues, highlighting demand for studies on governance, international harmonization, public engagement, 'cultures of care,' harm-benefit analysis, and the future of the 3Rs.
• Demonstrated the value of interdisciplinary exchange in improving communication and research effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for advancing laboratory animal science and welfare by integrating societal and ethical considerations.
• The developed research agenda provides a roadmap for future studies that bridge scientific and social/humanistic perspectives.
• Enhanced communication and integrated research approaches are vital for effective policy and practice in laboratory animal research.