An infographic on laboratory animal veterinarians

Abstract

Background: Laboratory animal veterinarians play a crucial role as a bridge between the ethical use of laboratory animals and the advancement of scientific and medical knowledge in biomedical research. They alleviate pain and reduce distress through veterinary care of laboratory animals. Additionally, they enhance animal welfare by creating environments that mimic natural habitats through environmental enrichment and social associations. This approach reduces errors caused by improper animal management and enhances the reproducibility of animal experiments, thereby contributing significantly to scientific progress.

Results: The Korean College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, established in 2006, aims to formalize the status of laboratory animal veterinarians. The revised Animal Protection Act of April 2022 mandates the employment of attending veterinarians in animal research facilities exceeding prescribed standards by Presidential Decree. This underscores the increasing importance of laboratory animal veterinarians in Korean society. Consequently, the Korean College of Laboratory Animal Medicine initiated efforts to raise awareness of laboratory animal veterinarians, leading to the creation of an infographic. Infographics combine textual and graphical elements to effectively convey information, data, and knowledge. These veterinarians collaborated with infographic specialists to research, check, classify, refine, analyze, and structure content on laboratory animal veterinarians.

Conclusion: This infographic represents the first comprehensive initiative worldwide on laboratory animal veterinarians. It will be disseminated globally to animal research facilities to enhance awareness and promote the professional standing of laboratory animal veterinarians.