Abstract
Laboratory Animals Limited (LAL) is a registered charity whose aims are to promote education and training in laboratory animal science, technology and welfare. One of the main ways in which LAL achieves this is by publication of the journal Laboratory Animals. In addition to publication of the Journal, LAL fulfills its objectives as a charity by funding a range of other initiatives in the field of laboratory animal science.
LAL provides bursaries to individuals who wish to attend appropriate training courses, provides funding in support of scientific meetings and offers financial assistance for workshops in a variety of topics related to laboratory animal science, technology and welfare. LAL also funds translations and development of audiovisual teaching material and websites that are relevant in the field of Laboratory Animal Science. The total annual budget for bursaries is £55,000.
For individuals applying to attend training courses, preference is generally given to applicants from developing countries, where there is a clear opportunity for conveying information to peers (“train-the-trainer” concept). Funding for scientific meetings, workshops and teaching materials is generally awarded when there is likely to be wide national/international exposure.
Breakdown of applications by country.
The total funding requested in 2016 was 303.564 Euros and funding awarded for successful applications was 72.879 Euros (£63,378) including a late awardee from the 2015 calls. Three of the successful applications were “large projects”, i.e. funding requested exceeded £5,000, the total awarded for such projects being 41.268 Euros (£33,197). (See Figure 1 and Table 2).
Percentage of applications funded. Successful applications in 2016.
Of the successful applications, 33% were for attending an accredited training course in Laboratory Animal Science, 60 % were for the organization of scientific meetings, workshops or conferences, and 7% for the development of audiovisual training materials, including e-learning and websites. The three large projects were for organisation of training courses in countries where Laboratory Animal Science is developing, including Ethiopia, Nigeria and Ghana (see Figure 2 and Table 2).
Types of application funded.