The Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation (ECAE) is a body jointly operated by the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS) and the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT). Its members are drawn from various fields – basic research, veterinary medicine, animal welfare, law and ethics.
The ECAE acts as an expert and advisory body in the area of animal experimentation. It anticipates and discusses ethical challenges arising from research involving animals, with the aim of promoting high-quality, responsible and scientifically robust research. The ECAE draws up position papers and recommendations, examines legal provisions in the area of animal experimentation and, where appropriate, comments on national and international regulations.
In addition, the ECAE provides a forum for inter- and transdisciplinary as well as interinstitutional dialogue among the stakeholders concerned. This dialogue is promoted, for example, by means of symposia and expert round tables. Together with the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, the ECAE is committed to open dialogue on animal experimentation under the Swiss Transparency Agreement on Animal Research (STAAR).
Prof. Hanno Würbel, Veterinary Public Health Institute, Animal Welfare Division, University Bern (Chair)
Prof. Michael Schmid, Department of Neurosciences and Movement Sciences, University of Fribourg (Vice Chair)
Dr. Charlotte E. Blattner, Institut für öffentliches Recht, Universität Bern
Dr. Matthias Eggel, Philosophisches Seminar, Universität Basel
Dr. Gisèle Ferrand, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel
Dr. Silvia Frey, Animalfree Research, Bern
Dr. med. vet. Simone Gilg, Abteilung Tiergesundheit und Tierschutz, Tierversuche, Bundesamt für Lebensmittelsicherheit und Veterinärwesen, Bern
Prof. Michael O. Hottiger, Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zurich
Prof. Daniel Huber, Department of Basic Neurosciences, Université de Genève
Prof. Angela Martin, Environmental Sciences and Humanities Institute, Université de Fribourg
Dr. Michaela Thallmair, Animal Welfare Officer, University of Zürich
Dr. Andrina Zbinden-Hauzenberger, Université de Fribourg
Andrea Kern, MSc, Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS)
House of Academies
Laupenstrasse 7
P.O. Box
3001 Bern
Switzerland