Ethical Framework for Obtaining Materials from Sentient Animals

The Ethical Framework for Obtaining Materials from Sentient Animals is a new resource to support research organisations and other stakeholders in their ethical decision-making when obtaining materials from sentient animals.

This user-friendly Framework is freely available and was developed by the Animal Materials Working Group, a UK-wide initiative led by the Wellcome Sanger Institute, with contributions from the UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO) and input from a wide range of stakeholders.

🔗 Download the Framework and User Guide

Why this framework is needed

Procuring materials from animals can be complex, involving a range of sources  and ethical considerations. Guidance on what to assess to enable an organisation to ethically source these materials can be limited.

This Framework addresses this lack of information by providing clear, practical guidance for evaluating the ethical dimensions of obtaining materials from sentient animals. It promotes standardisation through bench-marking content with multiple organisations, encourages informed decision-making, and supports responsible, proportionate assessments. By fostering critical reflection on animal welfare and the sources of materials, the Framework may enable the advancement of good practice across the research community and other sectors.

Scope of the Framework

The Framework applies to obtaining materials from sentient animals, including those protected under the UK Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA), using the definition of sentience outlined in the UK Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act.

Although it does not remove the need for ethical review where this is specified in relevant regulations, it is designed for use when materials have been obtained from a wide range of settings, including:

  • Research laboratories
  • Historical collections
  • Zoos, farms and veterinary contexts
  • Owned animals and animals in the wild
  • Retail procurement

What the Framework offers

  • Ethical clarity: Sets out what organisations receiving these materials might consider acceptable standards to prioritise animal welfare and mitigate potential reputational risk.
  • Guidance where it’s limited: Supplements or extends existing review processes with an adaptable ethical approach.
  • Accessibility: Comes with a User Guide, flowchart, and glossary to ease navigation and use.
  • Inclusivity: Draws on the practices and experiences of diverse institutions and organisations to support broad adoption.

The Framework is non-binding and can be referenced and/or incorporated (in part or whole) into existing organisational policies and processes. It is free to use globally.

Who should use it

This Framework may be relevant to anyone involved in the ethical assessment/governance of, or due diligence relating to, animal materials, including:

  • Researchers and laboratory staff
  • Research ethics and governance teams
  • Research administrators and managers
  • AWERBs, AWBs, IACUCs and research ethics committees (RECs)
  • Creative practitioners

Get involved and provide feedback

Organisations and individuals are invited to use the Framework and reference and/or integrate it (in whole or in part) into their policies and procedures. We also welcome feedback from stakeholders – especially those applying the Framework in practice.

To provide feedback, email: nagoya@sanger.ac.uk

About the Animal Materials Working Group

The Animal Materials Working Group (AMWG) was established to address ethical challenges involved in acquiring animal and animal-derived materials. Recognising the limitations of existing guidance, this group brought together expertise from organisations across the UK to develop a practical, adaptable, and benchmarked framework document. The group aimed to support an approach to ethical assessment that could be applied consistently across sectors, including within research and academic settings.

Acknowledgements and contributors

The Framework was initiated by the Research Governance team at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. Its development was supported by the Animal Materials Working Group (AMWG) with contributions from:

Conveners and Contributors
Carol Smee, Catherine McCarthy, Sarah Collison (Wellcome Sanger Institute)

Contributors
Andy Cunningham (University of Sussex),
Nia Dimond (previously Wellcome Sanger Institute),
Sarah Long (Natural History Museum, London),
Nikki Osborne (Responsible Research),
Jenny Parks (University of Southampton),
Ros Rouse (University of the West of England),
Josephine Woodhams (UK Research Integrity Office)

Observers
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC),
Medical Research Council (MRC)

Stakeholder reviewers included representatives from:
University of Oxford, University of Warwick, University of Birmingham, University of Dundee, University of Exeter, University of Edinburgh, University of Liverpool, University of Stirling, University of Strathclyde, University of Surrey, Queen’s University Belfast, AstraZeneca, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Royal Veterinary College, Medical Research Council Laboratory of Medical Sciences, National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research, and more.

Last updated: 5 June 2025