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Welcome to the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Animal Research Ethics Committee (AREC).

The Animal Research Ethics Committee (TUT AREC) is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical care and humane treatment of animals used in research, teaching, and testing. Our aim is to support innovative, responsible, and high-quality scientific inquiry across all faculties of the University, while ensuring compliance with national and international ethical guidelines.

The TUT AREC is registered with the National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC) in accordance with Section 73 of the National Health Act (Act No. 61 of 2003) Registration Number: AREC-010411-009. The committee operates under principles outlined in the South African National Standard (SANS 10386:2021) for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes.

The role of the TUT AREC is to review, approve, and monitor all research involving animals, animal derived data, animal biological materials, or interventions conducted on animals within TUT or by its researchers, as well as projects involving animals or their products which might be carried out in the TUT environment by external investigators.

In addition, the TUT AREC inspects and monitors facilities which house animals of TUT or are used for animal related research by TUT employees or students.

Please note that all proposed activities involving animals, animal biological materials or animal derived data must undergo ethical review and receive formal approval prior to commencement.

The TUT AREC committee ensures that all protocols adhere to the principles of Replacement, Reduction, Refinement and Responsibility (the 4Rs), and that the harms-benefit analysis justifies the use of animals.