Ethical Considerations in Animal Research and Education: A Framework for Ecuador

This study addresses the limited ethical oversight of animal research in Ecuador, where only two protocols have been approved by external IACUCs despite PUCE’s strong research productivity. To address this gap, it proposes bioethical guidelines for establishing a CEIA (Ethics Committee for Animal Research) at PUCE, focusing on Biomedicine and related disciplines. The guidelines were developed through a qualitative analysis of policies from 20 leading universities ranked in the 2020 QS World Ranking for Life Sciences and Medicine, using Atlas.ti (v.8). They emphasize that animals should be used in research only when no suitable alternatives exist and their use is scientifically justified. The recommendations highlight the 3Rs principle (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement), animal welfare, and the need for trained and continuously educated personnel to ensure humane and ethically sound research practices. The revised version incorporates the reviewer’s suggestions and includes the updated figure with the required specifications.