The Culture of Care Award 2024 was presented to Petra Seebeck (University of Zurich) and Stephan Zeiter (AO Research Institute Davos) on 27 November 2024 at the annual conference of the Swiss Laboratory Animal Science Association (SGV). Dr Seebeck and Dr Zeiter – both Diplomates of the European College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ECLAM) – and their team were recognised for their pioneering initiative to promote good surgical practice for animals used in research. The initiative has had a major impact on the promotion of best practice in rodent surgery. Over 250 researchers across Switzerland have already been trained, significantly improving both animal welfare and research quality. The Culture of Care Award is a prestigious recognition of innovative contributions to promoting a culture of care in science that empathises the promotion of animal welfare, transparency, scientific quality and care for animals, researchers and staff.

The award-winning initiative The award recognises initiatives that go beyond the legal requirements and ensure compassion and respect for laboratory animals and the staff working with them. Good Surgical Practice (GSP) is crucial for reliable study results and animal welfare. Dr Seebeck and Dr Zeiter’s research has identified opportunities for improvement in rodent surgery and found that many procedures could benefit from better training and more rigorous sterile techniques. Researchers performing these surgeries often work independently and do not necessarily have formal medical training, emphasising the need for clearer and more comprehensive guidelines. Dr Seebeck and Dr Zeiter’s team have developed a comprehensive training programme focused on promoting good surgical practice in rodent surgery and addressing critical gaps in training and guidelines. The initiative includes training courses with practical and theoretical guidance on sterile techniques, proper patient preparation and surgical procedures on rodents. It also provides resource development with the creation of educational materials to support continuous learning, as well as working with facility managers, veterinarians and animal welfare organisations to improve surgical standards across all facilities.