CEISA – Interuniversity Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation
CEISA is an interdisciplinary independent organisation for ethical and scientific evaluation of the study protocols that involve the use of animals for experimental purposes. It consists of experienced members (1 to 3 per centre) appointed by the three universities of the Abruzzo Region (‘G. D'Annunzio’ University of Chieti-Pescara, University of Teramo, University of L'Aquila) and by the Istituto Sperimentale Zooprofilattico Abruzzo e Molise ‘G. Caporale’ (IZSAM) Institute of Teramo (Regulations for the operation of CEISA).
CEISA acts on behalf of Rectors of Universities of reference and the Director General of IZSAM. The primary task of CEISA is to provide ethical - scientific counselling to the Committees for Animal Care (OpBA) working at the member institutions, regarding projects involving the use of animals for experimental purposes (OpBA Chieti). CEISA can also offer counselling to other external organisations that apply for ethical - scientific evaluations.
Other important goals pursued by CEISA in reference institutions include: a) the promotion of vocational training in the field of science of laboratory animals; b) postgraduate education in PhD courses related to different scientific fields interested to animal testing; c) training of appropriate skills and expertise about the scientific approach of the ‘3Rs’ (http://www.nc3rs.org.uk/page.asp?id=7).
The projects submitted to the relevant OpBAs of the reference authorities, at the express request of the head of the research project or at the request of the scientific representative of the OpBA are submitted to ethical and scientific assessment by CEISA - Interuniversity Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation.
CEISA ensures the examination of the project by giving written evaluation to OpBA within 15 working days from the date of dispatch.