There is an urgent need for ongoing research to find the cause and hopefully a cure for the life ending disease that is multiple system atrophy (MSA). We believe the use of animal tissue and/or live animals in research is essential to understanding MSA and enabling research to find a cure.
MSA Trust will only fund and support research involving animals when no realistic alternatives are available and that any institution preparing to research using animals can demonstrate they comply with the rigorous laws that safeguard the welfare of animals used in research both here in the UK and across the EU. As with all funded research there must be a clear potential benefit to people with MSA.
MSA Trust’s policy is to act responsibly, sensitively and in compliance with both the letter and the spirit of the law in funding any such project which may involve the use of animal tissue and/or live animals. As a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities, we align to their position statement and guidance when considering research grant applications.
The Trust requires that any application for funding for a project which involves the use of animals must include review by an animal care and use committee within the host institution.
The following conditions for any such project are to apply at all times:
- The use of animals must be absolutely necessary.
- The potential benefits to MSA patients must outweigh the cost to animals.
- There must be full justification for the animal species and methods used.
- There must be a clear indication of what the outcome of the research will be.
It is recognised that there are non-animal methods, such as studies of post-mortem human tissue, computer modelling, studies of patients and populations, which may be of benefit (sometimes in conjunction with animals) and should be considered in the planning of any research project submitted to the Trust for funding.
All grant holders using animals must implement the principles in the cross-funder guidance Responsibility in the Use of Animals in Bioscience Research (www.nc3rs.org.uk/responsibility)
Grant holders using non-human primates must comply with the NC3Rs guidelines Primate Accommodation, Care and Use (www.nc3rs.org.uk/primatesguidelines).
Grant holders should make use of the ARRIVE guidelines (www.nc3rs.org.uk/ARRIVE) when designing their experiments, and ensure that they report animal-based studies in accordance with the ARRIVE guidelines as far as possible, taking into account the specific editorial policies of the journal concerned.
We ask that researchers that propose the use of animals in their work complete the additional page regarding use of animals in their work when they submit funding applications.
- Adopted by Trustee Board, June 2014, reviewed 2025
- Next Review: 2028