Zebrafish, clawed frogs, and mice are kept for research in our Core Facility, whose staff is responsible for the welfare of the laboratory animals in accordance with animal ethics. The main tasks of animal facility management are the humane care and targeted, planned breeding of laboratory animals. A specialist veterinarian works with a team of animal caretakers, technical assistants, and veterinary assistants to ensure the well-being of the animals in accordance with their needs. Monitoring is carried out in cooperation with animal welfare officers. Keeping animals in a manner appropriate to their species and in accordance with animal welfare is not only legally and ethically essential, but also necessary in order to obtain meaningful and reproducible research results later on.

The animal facility is an important point of contact for scientists planning and conducting in vivo experiments and is involved in the planning process from the outset. It provides expert advice on animal experimentation issues and organizes the provision and prophylactic health maintenance of the animals, as well as their care before and during the research work.

The general and specific animal care services go hand in hand with the requirements for effective hygiene management. Veterinary care for the animals, including monitoring their welfare, also includes diagnostics for possible animal diseases. In addition, experimental animal research projects are supported through consultation and supervision. Continuing education and training in laboratory animal science for employees and researchers ensures ongoing compliance with the legally prescribed 3R rules (replace, reduce, refine). The Max Planck Society has introduced the so-called 4R principle for all its institutes in order to enshrine a special focus on human responsibility towards animals.