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About the Moredun Research Institute

Working closely with farmers and vets, Moredun Research Institute strives to improve livestock health and support sustainable agriculture through the development of diagnostic tests and the creation of novel vaccines to combat infectious disease.

Moredun’s science also helps find solutions to other major challenges such as ensuring safe and sustainable food and water supplies; the consequences of a changing climate and conserving biodiversity.

Moredun has extensive Home Office Licensed laboratory and animal facilities which underpin our research. Our laboratories are equipped to handle a broad range of livestock pathogens including bacteria, viruses and parasites.

Our on-site animal accommodation houses all species of livestock. The animal facility is an integrated complex incorporating purpose-built farm animal accommodation and a post-mortem suite with incineration facilities. An extensive high containment facility provides optimal controlled environmental conditions for large and small animal species and facilitates research on specified pathogens up to Containment Level 3. We also have 150 Hectares of grazing land in paddocks which are used in our research projects. Our facilities are staffed by highly trained and dedicated individuals including experienced veterinarians, who provide expert animal care and maintenance.

MRI Statement on the Use of Animals in Scientific Research

Moredun Research Institute (MRI) is internationally recognised for its research on the prevention and control of infectious diseases of livestock and the improvement of animal health and welfare.

MRI follows and complies with stringent guidelines and regulations and has been operating and continually developing an ethical review procedure for over 30 years to ensure that if animals are used in research it is to advance science and knowledge to benefit animal health and welfare in the future. MRI is committed to applying the principals of reduction, refinement and replacement of animals in research. To this end, every experiment using animals has the experimental design reviewed by an Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB) to ensure the use is justified. The AWERB includes staff working with the animals and a statistician to advise on minimal numbers. A report is given to the AWERB at the end of each experiment where promotion of the 3Rs is paramount.

We have a communications centre to promote communications with the media and the public about our research using animals.  We encourage openness and are proactive in providing opportunities for the public to find out about our research.

Moredun is part of a collaborative group of Scottish Research Institutes (SEFARI – Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Research Institutes) that receive funding from the Scottish Government to conduct research relevant to policy involving agriculture, the environment, food security, biodiversity, climate change, disease prevention and control and health and well being.

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