The Biomedical Sciences Building

The Biomedical Sciences Building exists to rehouse research animals that were previously housed in older buildings scattered through the University science area. These older facilities, which are now closed, met all the strict Home Office regulations for animal care, but the University wished to exceed those regulations and set a gold standard for animal care.

They met all the strict UK regulations on the housing and care of animals. However, the University wants to exceed those standards and set a ‘gold standard’ for animal care. That is what the new building allowed.

The building is primarily a rodent facility: 98% of animals housed there are rodents, almost all of which are mice. Other species housed there are fish, frogs, ferrets and primates. The primates account for under half of one per cent (0.5%) of all animals housed in the building.

No. The work that takes place in the building is research work, not pharmaceutical testing.

First, it is state of the art in terms of animal health and hygiene. Every individual room has its own air supply, whose pressure, temperature and humidity can be controlled. This complex environmental control system both contains the possibility of any pathogens (disease-causing micro-organisms) spreading and allows for the right temperature and humidity for each species.

Second, it brings the team who look after animal welfare – Veterinary Services  – on site, rather than them having to move between different buildings. Their facilities, including training facilities (important for ensuring consistent animal care), are much better than before. The Veterinary Services staff are specialists in animal care and work to ensure the welfare of animals.

On the whole the housing units are larger, and enrichment – providing interest for animals and things which encourage natural behaviour, for example opportunities to climb – is better (see 'Animal welfare').

First and foremost by being better for animals. Animals in optimal health and in a good psychological state give more reliable, reproducible research results. Second by providing better faculties for researchers and staff. This combination allows even better research and further medical advances.