AWP alumni Dr. Michael W Brunt conducted his PhD research on understanding the social license to use animals for scientific experimentation and the influence of institutional transparency.
Knowledge translation and transfer (KTT) is particularly crucial in applied disciplines, like animal welfare, that aim to improve the lives of animals through research. Translation of academic research is essential to effectively accomplish this goal and should be conducted in ways that are accessible to industry partners, policy makers, and broader society.
In January 2024, the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) released a transparency initiative for Canadian institutions that use animals for scientific purposes. The document created a road map to increase transparency with the Canadian public about the lived experience of these animals in 3 phases over 4 years. A significant amount of research referenced in this document was conducted in the UBC Animal Welfare Program.
However, the integration of published research into policy, as exampled above, requires investment of time and resources. Years were invested by numerous people involved in this research when presentations were given in industry symposiums or professional conferences. Serving to disseminate, dialogue, and collaborate on regulatory governing boards, standing committees, or working groups, and to advise for research-based policy advancements.
I encourage the members of the Animal Welfare Program to celebrate these successes, mobilize the energy, and continue to contribute to the AWP history of propelling research into action. The full initiative can be found in the CCAC’s Transparency in Animal-Based Science document.
Michael Brunt, PhD (He, Him, His)
SSHRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow &
NSERC Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Department of Population Medicine
Ontario Veterinary College | University of Guelph
mbrunt@uoguelph.ca | @michaelwbrunt