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PRBB takes a new step to attract international scientific talent

Since June 2010, the program of animal care and use of the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) disposes of the complete accreditation by the International Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC). It is the maximum international certification in this field and implies an acknowledgement of the quality of the operation of the centre which translates into better practices and research results. Besides PRBB there are only four more accredited animal facilities in Spain, two in private companies (GlaxoSmithKline and Ferrer), the CIC BioGune (Bask Country) and the Bellvitge Institute of Biomedical Research IDIBELL (Catalonia). Europe counts on 54 certified centres, mostly in private companies.

30 june 2010

The accreditation manifests the responsibility and the commitment to the human and ethical care of animals and serves as publicity for the research centres, that are located in the park, to attract the best and most brilliant researchers and professors, besides it gives pass to collaborations with biotech and pharmaceutical companies, that mostly work in exclusivity with animal facilities that are certified by AAALAC. According to Juan Martin Caballero, director of the PRBB animal facility, "it is an honour for the people working here and it is important for the image of PRBB, because it is appreciated to be an accredited institution, especially for the granting of competitive research funds for scientists who use animal models."

"The long process of accreditation of one year has been an outstanding effort by the personnel of the animal facility, human resources, general services and of the Animal Ethics Committee (AECPRBB) and would not have been possible without the firm commitment of the management of the park", explains Juan Martin Caballero. The AAALAC evaluates all the issues in operating an animal facility, from the welfare of the animals, the kind of approved procedures by the AECPRBB, the education and experience of the personnel, the prevention of labour risks and the installations with its respective scientific equipment.

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