About the European Coalition for Biomedical Research
The ECBR represents European medical researchers working in universities and other non-profit institutions, who study the way that the healthy body functions, how this breaks down in diseases, the causes of diseases and potential methods of preventing or treating diseases.
Laboratory animal experiments have always been an important part of research in the biological and medical sciences. Many of the most important advances in medical science have depended on animal research. Naturally, this research is subject to special controls to minimise any suffering or distress experienced by the animals. These controls need to strike a careful balance between protecting laboratory animals and allowing science to progress without undue restriction.
Within the EU, Directive 86/609 sets out the framework for the legislation regulating animal research within each Member State. In 2001, the European Commission proposed that Directive 86/609 should be revised.
During 2005 and 2006, a number of academic research associations in Europe became concerned that the revision of the directive might result in poorly-thought out regulations that could unnecessarily restrict biomedical research within the EU. Following an initiative by the European Biomedical Research Association and the UK's Biosciences Federation, it was agreed to form a European coalition of academic associations in the biomedical sciences, to represent their interests in the political debate about the revision. The European Coalition for Biomedical Research was launched in November 2006.
Currently, there are over 50 associations and institutions within the coalition, from 19 Member States, with a joint membership of over 50,000 scientists.
The management of the coalition is delegated to an executive group consisting of:
General Secretary Dr Mark Matfield, European Biomedical Research Association
Members Professor Peter Janssen, Belgian Society of Neuroscience
Professor Christine Giudicelli, French Society of Pharmacology
Dr Duncan Banks, British Neuroscience Association