Laboratory Animal Science Association
LASA is the UK society for scientists and laboratory animal professionals interested in animal research, 3Rs, care and welfare, education, training, ethics, and policy and regulation of animal research. Founded in 1963, LASA aims to advance scientific understanding and promote refinement, reduction, and replacement in laboratory animal science. It supports openness and transparency in animal research, offers membership benefits including discounts, career support, policy updates, and training, and organizes conferences and events to foster community and knowledge sharing.
Industries
Nr. of Employees
small (1-50)
Laboratory Animal Science Association
Products
Fact sheets and guidance documents
Published fact sheets on specific procedures and welfare topics to support best practice (example: fact sheet on the forced swim test).
Refinement Wiki and curated resource links
Links and references to international refinement resources and wikis that compile welfare-improving methods and techniques.
Open-access DOPS templates
Downloadable templates and instructions for conducting direct observation workplace-based assessments.
Compiled policy and regulatory change documents
Collection of documents and summaries related to regulatory change programmes and national regulatory operating models for animal research.
Fact sheets and guidance documents
Published fact sheets on specific procedures and welfare topics to support best practice (example: fact sheet on the forced swim test).
Refinement Wiki and curated resource links
Links and references to international refinement resources and wikis that compile welfare-improving methods and techniques.
Open-access DOPS templates
Downloadable templates and instructions for conducting direct observation workplace-based assessments.
Compiled policy and regulatory change documents
Collection of documents and summaries related to regulatory change programmes and national regulatory operating models for animal research.
Services
A membership-accessible CPD programme offering structured professional development resources and recorded participation.
Organisation of annual scientific conferences, virtual annual meetings, and specialist network meetings with presentations, trade exhibitions and workshops.
Provision of open-access Direct Observation of Procedural/Practical Skills templates and instructions for workplace competency assessment.
Distribution of guidance documents, fact sheets and policy statements on topics including sex inclusion in experimental design, refinement techniques, and regulatory changes.
Provision of bursaries for meeting attendance and prizes for innovations that advance replacement, reduction or refinement in animal research.
Hosting of licence-holder forums and stakeholder meetings to provide feedback on regulatory change programmes and support dialogue between practitioners and regulators.
A membership-accessible CPD programme offering structured professional development resources and recorded participation.
Organisation of annual scientific conferences, virtual annual meetings, and specialist network meetings with presentations, trade exhibitions and workshops.
Provision of open-access Direct Observation of Procedural/Practical Skills templates and instructions for workplace competency assessment.
Distribution of guidance documents, fact sheets and policy statements on topics including sex inclusion in experimental design, refinement techniques, and regulatory changes.
Provision of bursaries for meeting attendance and prizes for innovations that advance replacement, reduction or refinement in animal research.
Hosting of licence-holder forums and stakeholder meetings to provide feedback on regulatory change programmes and support dialogue between practitioners and regulators.
Expertise Areas
- Laboratory animal welfare and ethics
- Implementation of the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement)
- Training and competency assessment for laboratory animal professionals
- Regulatory compliance and guidance for animal research
Key Technologies
- Direct observation of procedural skills (workplace-based assessment)
- Continuing professional development programme frameworks
- Guidance and fact-sheet development for welfare and refinement
- Online and hybrid event delivery for scientific meetings
News & Updates
LASA’s Annual Conference scheduled for 17-19 November 2025 in West Midlands, UK.
Held in November 2021 with 247 delegates, featuring expert speakers.
Attendance was the highest ever, held in Birmingham with a comprehensive program.
LASA participated in EARA’s Be Open About Animal Research Day 2024, supporting openness in animal research.
LASA condemned the inhumane treatment of laboratory animals shown in undercover footage from Hamburg, Germany.
A network established to bring together the UK animal welfare research community.
LASA’s Annual Conference scheduled for 17-19 November 2025 in West Midlands, UK.
Held in November 2021 with 247 delegates, featuring expert speakers.
Attendance was the highest ever, held in Birmingham with a comprehensive program.
LASA participated in EARA’s Be Open About Animal Research Day 2024, supporting openness in animal research.
LASA condemned the inhumane treatment of laboratory animals shown in undercover footage from Hamburg, Germany.
A network established to bring together the UK animal welfare research community.