In 2020, EPFL conducted research with 23,294 animals on campus, of which 93% were mice.
Degree of severity
Weighing the potential of animal suffering against the need to learn, discover, and cure is a central concern. The constraints caused by interventions or measures carried out in an experiment are classified according to their degree of severity, ranging from 0 (no constraint) to 3 (severe constraint). It is important to emphasize that the expected benefits to society of animal experiments must be greater than the suffering and violation of the animals’ dignity, as stated in the Swiss legislation. The weighing of interests is established according to a very strict authorization and control process, described here.
