University of Edinburgh

Animal Welfare Research Group

    Introduction

The University of Edinburgh Animal Welfare Research Group (AWRG) was an interdisciplinary group funded by a Research Development Grant from SHEFC (Scottish Higher Education Funding Council). 

 Background

The University of Edinburgh was awarded a Research Development Grant in  1998 to establish a new interdisciplinary animal welfare research group by bringing together existing animal welfare research groups from different parts of the University.

The Animal Welfare Research Group provided the focus for a Centre for the application of neurobiology in animal welfare research which contributes to the research capabilities of a Animal Welfare Research Consortium. This Consortium consists of research groups from the Scottish Agricultural College (Animal Biology Division, Veterinary Sciences Division and Animal Nutrition and Health Department), the  Roslin Institute (Welfare Biology Group), the Moredun Research Institute (Division of Immunology & Clinical Division) and the University of Edinburgh (AWRG)

Aims of the AWRG:

• to provide the infrastructure for animal welfare research at the University of Edinburgh;
• to perform collaborative animal welfare research with the other members of the Animal Welfare Research Consortium, the Scottish Centre for Animal Welfare Sciences and other national, European and international research groups;
• to clarify and fulfil the animal welfare research requirements of national and international bodies;
• to develop neurobiological techniques that can be applied in animal welfare research.