Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee (AEEC)

What is the AEEC?

According to R. D. 53/2013 of 1 February, which establishes the basic rules applicable to the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes, including teaching,

Article 37, in centres breeding, supplying and using experimental animals, there must be a body in charge of animal welfare ("OEBA"). In users, this body shall be called the animal experimentation ethics committee.

In our case, as the animal facility of the Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal is a user of experimental animals (*), this body is called the Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee (AEEC)

The AEEC as an authorised body (A.B.) for project assessment

In addition, since 2014, the CEEA of the Ramón y Cajal University Hospital has been an Authorised Body of the Community of Madrid (A.B.) (Resolution of 21 January 2014) for the evaluation of projects involving the use of experimental animals (See "The AEEC as an Authorised Body").

Therefore, as established in articles 32, 33 and 34 of the aforementioned R.D., in order to obtain the Authorisation of the Competent Authority (Animal Protection Area of the Community of Madrid) to carry out a project involving the use of experimental animals, a series of procedures must be fulfilled in which the AEEC and the A.B. must intervene.

AEEC functions

The main functions of the AEEC are those set out in art. 38 of R. D. 53/2013, which establishes the basic rules applicable to the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes, including teaching, namely:

Advise staff dealing with animals on animal welfare issues related to the acquisition, housing, care and use of animals.
Advise staff on the implementation of the replacement, reduction and refinement requirement, and keep them informed of technical and scientific developments in the implementation of that requirement.
Establish and review internal operational processes with regard to the control, communication and monitoring of animal welfare related information.
Advise on rehoming or adoption schemes, including appropriate socialisation of animals to be rehomed or adopted.
At user level, it shall also prepare the report referred to in Article 33(1) and monitor projects taking into account their effect on the animals used as well as identify and evaluate the elements that best contribute to replacement, reduction and refinement.

In addition to these functions specified in RD 53/2013, the AEEC shall at all times ensure compliance with current legislation on animal experimentation, and shall advise the Hospital's management bodies and research-related authorities on the adequacy of the procedures and regulations governing animal experimentation and teaching at the centre.

AEEC composition:

President

FEDERICO SORIA GÁLVEZ
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Head of the Experimental Surgery Department
Ramón y Cajal University Hospital

Secretary

BEATRIZ BARROCAL LÓPEZ
Veterinarian
Experimental Surgery and Animal Facility Unit
Ramón y Cajal University Hospital

Members

ANA ISABEL ORTIZ CHÉRCOLES
Veterinarian
Experimental Surgery and Animal Facility Unit
Ramón y Cajal University Hospital

FERNANDO ALMEIDA PARRA
Attending Physician in Maxillofacial Surgery
Ramón y Cajal University Hospital

ALICIA MANSILLA APARICIO
PhD in Biology
Senior Researcher UAH-IRYCIS

LAURA RUIZ CAÑAS
PhD in Biology
Head of In Vivo Models at the Biobank and Biomodels Unit IRYCIS/HURYC

CARLOS ZARAZOGA SÁNCHEZ
PI of the Cardiovascular diseases group
IRYCIS

ELENA MARTÍN GARCÍA
PhD in Biochemistry
Postdoctoral Researcher at IRYCIS

ÓSCAR PASTOR ROJO
PhD in Chemical Sciences
Attending Physician in Biochemistry and Chemical Analysis
Ramón y Cajal University Hospital

Legal framework

Law 32/2007, of 7 November, for the care of animals, in their exploitation, transport, experimentation and sacrifice.
Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes.
Royal Decree 53/2013 of 1 February establishing the basic rules applicable to the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes, including teaching.
Order ECC/566/2015, of 20 March, establishing the training requirements to be met by personnel handling animals used, bred or supplied for experimental and other scientific purposes, including teaching.