Abstract
The online LASA annual conference will be spread over a total of six afternoons in mid/late November. Please save these November 2021 dates in your diaries!
16–18 and 23–25 November 2021
1300 hours – 1630 hours GMT
The first draft of the provisional scientific programme is available to download from the LASA website so that delegates get a taste of what to expect later this year. You will be able to see we have chosen a ‘looking beyond Coronavirus’ theme for this year and we hope all the LASA Sections will be able to contribute their thoughts and ideas to the programme as it develops over the coming weeks and months. We anticipate that there will be something to interest everyone!
Topics include:
Culture of care within facilities, how this was affected during the pandemic and how it has been altered for the future.
The world of virtual teaching and training. What has worked well and how can this be further developed? Learning from educators’ experiences to teaching online, blended learning and social distancing challenges during the pandemic.
Colony management moving forward from COVID-19
Let's learn from our medical colleagues and intensive care medicine.
The LASA 3Rs section conveners are inviting submissions for spoken presentations on any aspect of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) to be given at the 2021 LASA virtual annual conference. We are particularly interested in hearing about techniques that have been utilized during the recent COVID-19 pandemic (e.g. contingency refinements/developments) and new 3Rs advances that are supported by scientific data, but will consider other submissions. An abstract submission form can be found on the LASA website and the closing date for submissions is 27 August 2021.
Our opening keynote speaker is confirmed and we are delighted that Alexandra Spencer (Jenner Institute, University of Oxford) is able to join us to present ‘Preclinical insights into the development of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine’. Alexandra Spencer will be sharing her knowledge and expertise by providing an overview of the preclinical side of the vaccine development, why non-human primate (NHP), ferret and mouse studies were vital, and showcasing how integral animal work was to getting this vaccine to the clinic (and licensed).
LASA is also very excited to announce that a COVID-19 specialist has agreed to present on her area of expertise. Sharon Peacock, Professor of Public Health and Microbiology in the Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, and Executive Director and Chair of the COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) consortium, will discuss ‘SARS-CoV-2 variants – past, present and future’. The COG-UK consortium has been created to deliver large-scale and rapid whole-genome virus sequencing to local NHS centres and the UK government. COG-UK is made up of an innovative partnership of NHS organisations, the four Public Health Agencies of the UK, the Wellcome Sanger Institute and over 12 academic partners providing sequencing and analysis capacity. The virus genome data is combined with clinical and epidemiological datasets to help to guide UK public health interventions and policies. The data enables researchers to identify and understand genetic changes that affect how easily the virus is passed on and the severity of the symptoms it causes. It will also help to target the development of treatments and vaccines and monitor their impact as they are introduced. 
All presentations will be recorded and will be available for registrants to ‘watch on demand’ for several months after the main event. The virtual platform is very ‘interactive’ so will allow for networking opportunities between delegates and Trade partners alike.
LASA is grateful that Envigo has confirmed their ongoing sponsorship (£500 first prize) for the scientific poster session this year – the format will be slightly different to adapt to the virtual environment and includes the option to record a short scientific ‘poster pitch’ (5 min duration) in MP4 format for delegates to view – there will also be an opportunity for live Q&A with poster presenters during the event if presenters wish to participate in this too.
The Animals in Science Education Trust (AS–ET) continue their generous support of the LASA 3Rs session and are sponsoring a first prize (£200) to the best 3Rs presenter during their online session on Thursday 18 November.
Registration will open soon online, with a special ‘early-bird’ discounted registration price – watch this space for more details!
LASA/UFAW 3Rs Section Meeting – 9 September 2021
Enrichment and science: a match made in heaven?
The LASA 3Rs section will be hosting their annual event online this year, the theme is to discuss the inclusion of environmental enrichment and how it may impact on science. The programme will include speakers from all sectors across the UK, EU, the US and Canada, and will include presentations validating the need for enrichment, how this can be achieved and how enrichment affects variability. Provisional subjects for presentations at the meeting include:
Effects of barren versus enriched mouse cages on health and welfare. Recent evaluation of different enrichment items from a mouse perspective. Statistical variability – what is the evidence? Some broader considerations for enrichment and welfare.
‘COVID-19 has impacted everyone across the globe, but some good things have come out from it and one is the opportunity to host online events where we can bring people together from across the globe. For 2021 we wanted to talk about the importance of environmental enrichment to the animals and how or if we need to balance this with the need for a robust study design in science. We want to ensure we enrich the lives of our animals without compromising the science and when using enrichment how can we improve our understanding of the physiological and psychological response of animals to the enrichment may have on scientific outcomes? Please join us online to explore this interesting and complex topic.’ (LASA 3Rs Section Conveners)
For all LASA events, contact the Secretariat