Perceptions of laboratory animal facility managers regarding institutional transparency

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Science
• Research Ethics
• Science Communication

Background:

• Institutions conducting animal research face legal and regulatory obligations for information release.
• Perspectives on public transparency within animal research facilities are not well-documented.
• Facility managers bridge the gap between researchers and animal care staff, influencing transparency perceptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe perceptions of transparency among animal research facility managers.
• To understand how these perceptions influence managers' experiences within an ethical oversight program.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured, open-ended interviews were conducted with 12 facility managers.
• Qualitative analysis identified key themes related to transparency.

Main Results:

• Four major themes emerged: communication strategies, impact on participants, expectations of transparency, and institutional policies.
• Perceptions of transparency varied among managers, with differences noted between university and hospital settings.
• Managers' views on transparency are not uniform, even within the same oversight program.

Conclusions:

• Institutions, regulators, and the public should not assume a uniform interpretation of transparency among facility managers.
• Sustained communication efforts are necessary to support managers and foster shared perspectives on animal research transparency.