Care and Well-Being of Laboratory Animals: Second Edition
A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Welfare".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 October 2025 | Viewed by 92
Special Issue Editor
2. 3R Centre JLU Giessen, Interdisciplinary Centre for 3Rs in Animal Research (ICAR3R), Giessen, Germany
Interests: stereotypies in laboratory rodents; assessment of suffering; 3R education; culture of care
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The well-being of laboratory animals remains a central concern in biomedical research, with growing recognition of their intrinsic value and their capacity for sensory perception and suffering. Recent advancements in animal welfare research have deepened our understanding of the complex needs of laboratory animals, highlighting the ethical responsibilities of all stakeholders involved in their care.
In the face of these responsibilities, continuous improvement in care practices is essential to ensure that animals are housed in environments that best support their physical and psychological needs. The concept of care goes beyond routine husbandry—it involves a comprehensive approach that includes knowledge, empathy, and responsibility, with all actors contributing to the overall welfare of the animals.
The challenge of maintaining optimal well-being in laboratory animals is heightened by the artificial, often stressful environments in which they live. To truly address their needs, it is crucial to shift the perspective towards understanding how these animals experience their surroundings and how their needs can be met effectively.
This Special Issue will once again explore the latest insights on the care and well-being of laboratory animals, incorporating diverse perspectives from research, ethics, and practical implementation. We invite contributions that reflect current advancements and explore innovative solutions to improve the lives of laboratory animals.
Prof. Dr. Stephanie Krämer
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- 3Rs
- refinement
- animal well-being
- animal welfare
- laboratory animal science
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
Related Special Issue
- Care and Well-Being of Laboratory Animals in Animals (13 articles)
