EARA Strategic Review

Transcription

1 EARA Strategic Review CONTENTS Overview - Establishment - Operations - Achievements Member survey Key findings Draft strategy - Vision and mission - Audiences - Five strategy objective - EARA objectives and actions Page 1 of 14

2 EARA OVERVIEW 1. The establishment of EARA The creation of EARA in 2014 was influenced by a number of factors: I. Activists and extremists had developed increasingly effective tactics and smart strategies, combining intelligence networks, the targeting of the supply chain, social media activism, policy and legal actions. These developments were in addition to more traditional campaigning and very occasional criminality. They had developed a rich toolbox of tactics. II. Simultaneously, we witnessed a reduction in proactive communications on the benefits of animal research. In many European markets, public and political decision makers were starved of factual and even emotional information on the benefits of animal research. This unbalanced narrative had a negative impact on public acceptability. III. Those opposed to animal research often spoke with one voice in Europe. The European life sciences sector was hampered by the absence of a consistent unified voice for research. IV. Added to this lack of co-ordination was the absence in key markets of national advocacy and research defence groups able to represent all stakeholders involved in animal research. V. Such weaknesses led to difficulties in adequate and timely reaction to smart campaigns, such as those targeting Green Hill in Italy and transport providers. Activists had also become a serious threat to basic research. VI. Finally, the European life sciences sector faced unprecedented pressures on its animal research supply chain. Activists had turned turn their attention to animal breeding, the transport of animals and the financial services sector. A handful of activists succeeded in largely halting the transport of research animals. The reduction in transport routes and reluctance of financial services to support the sector has the potential to impact on specific investment decisions by companies, potentially placing the future of Europe as a key site for R&D in jeopardy and therefore its global competitiveness. The life sciences sector was constantly losing battles against low-key but constant activist campaigning. The sector came together in 2013 with a shared belief that it was insufficient to merely defend animal research against specific threats. There was a recognition of the need to develop, establish and implement proactive communication strategies and tools, to improve public understanding and acceptability of animal research, and to help co-ordinate the sector to speak with a unified voice to decision makers in Brussels and with the national advocacy organisations. Page 2 of 14

3 2. EARA operations from 2014 Funding was agreed by the small number of founding organisations (fewer than 10), a governance structure was established with a board, elected from the founding members. One person was employed to lead the day to day activity (as Executive Director) with the potential for hiring one other full-time member of staff. Four priority countries were identified: Italy, Spain, Germany and Belgium, and four purposes outlined. EARA was initially envisioned as having a three-year life span. The purposes of EARA were agreed as: - Facilitate the establishment of local animal research advocacy groups and networks in countries where they don t exist in Europe - Build relationships within the supply chain to alleviate pressure on the transport of laboratory animals and the reluctance of the financial services sector to support the life sciences sector - Create a favourable climate for research using laboratory animals in Europe, through influencing national and EU decision makers - Maintain and improve a high level of public understanding and acceptance of animal research for human and animal health through a variety of communications means 3. EARA achievements The key achievements from the first three years have been: Network Building: Italy: Winning the support of industry for the project, and the creation of the national body Research4Life. Spain: Promotion of a local network and the development, launch and co-ordination of a national transparency agreement, with more than 100 member organisations. Belgium: 2016 World Day for Laboratory Animals statement; groundwork laid for a national transparency agreement, informal network of nine Institutions created. Germany: Establishment of an informal network of public and private institutions, including the Max Planck Society. A membership of 57 institutions (as of August 2018 EARA membership stands at 70 institutions with 24 from industry, 24 from public research and 23 from advocacy and professional organisations) across 15 countries. Page 3 of 14

4 Page 4 of 14 Engagement with the European Commission and Parliament Key role in mobilising the life sciences sector to oppose the 2015 European Citizens Initiative (ECI), including meetings within the European Parliament, supplied 40% of scientific community speakers for the December 2016 Scientific conference in Brussels. Hosted and co-ordinated the joint statement on the EU Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes; with support from more than 300 institutions. Helped in the creation of the European Life Sciences Alliance (ELSA), playing an active role in activities to engage private and public research in the EU Directive review process. Invited by the Commission to participate in the stakeholder Review of the EU Directive; EARA s work was referenced positively in the Review. Co-ordinated an EARA expert group to feed into the SCHEER Updated Opinion on NHPs - EARA was the only organisation representing industry that volunteered to address the open hearing. Communications Creation of the EARA social media brand, including native language twitter feeds for France, Italy, Germany and Spain. Engaged with decision makers within public and private research on the importance of improving openness and transparency on animal research EARA weekly News Digest on developments within the media, policy and science on animal research received by more than 400 individuals interested in the life sciences sector. Invited to participate on the Max Planck Presidential Commission on Animal Research in the Max Planck Society. Held eight one-day communications training workshops. Supply Chain Built a relationship of trust alongside GIRCOR with Air France. Reversed ING Bank s decision not to fund projects involving NHPs (however, there are ongoing issues that still need addressing). Helped reverse airline IBERIA s decision not to transport research animals to the Canary Islands. Recognised by the UK Government as the go-to association for advice, information and help on animal research supply chain issues; invited to take part in two cross-whitehall crisis scenario planning meetings. European partner to the US-based RATC group, that provides input into briefings supplied to the White House; wrote communications plan for Cargolux and Qatar Airways. The growth in scope and influence of EARA was welcomed by our members and in 2016 they agreed to the extension of EARA beyond the three-year campaign, into one with a permanent existence.

5 MEMBER ORGANISATION SURVEY 2017 As part of EARA s evaluation of its future strategic role, a members survey was conducted to assess awareness and satisfaction. A total of 30 EARA member organisations responded from 13 countries a response rate of just over 50%. All types of organisation within EARA were represented in the survey. 1.Key findings of the survey There was recognition of the success of EARA and strong support for its continued existence. The top three words used to describe EARA were Informative; Engaged; Proactive EARA s rapid growth has been somewhat at the expense of some of our founding members. Such growth has, by necessity, reduced our ability to engage with each of our members in a tailored way. While continuing to encourage institutions to join EARA, we need to consolidate our existing membership, by improving the quality and quantity of the services we provide - The majority of respondents were satisfied with EARA, answering either satisfied or very satisfied (57%), however 43% gave a neutral answer. We need more direct face-to-face meetings and training (media, communications and advocacy) with our members. We need to explain better why our time and resources are spent on certain EARA activities, such as why laboratory animal transport continues to be one of our key concerns - 60% of respondents have received face-to-face support. Of those who received direct support (18 of 29 respondents) 89% found it valuable or very valuable. At a national and institutional level EARA needs to provide greater explanation of its successes across the four key objectives. We need to explain why we do what we do better and find new ways to highlight progress Page 5 of 14

6 DRAFT EARA STRATEGY 1. EARA vision and mission statements Our vision is that the understanding and recognition of the importance and benefits of research involving animals across Europe is acknowledged by a significant majority of society, allowing for a more constructive dialogue with all stakeholders and a more efficient and dispassionate climate for research. Our mission is to become the leading European voice for the life sciences sector (academic institutions, associations and industry) that use animals in research for human, animal and environmental benefit. EARA will provide a European platform for public and other external stakeholders to be informed and learn about animal research, its benefits and limitations. Page 6 of 14

7 2. EARA audiences Legislators & regulators EU and national politicians, policymakers, and regulators, national ethics committee Transport providers Airlines, shipping and other transportation EUROPEAN LIFE SCIENCES SECTOR Stakeholders, including private and public research (both human & animal), medical research charities, patient groups and funders. Breeders and suppliers. Media Mainstream media (TV, radio, newspapers, online ) and science publications General public National, regional and pan-european Page 7 of 14

8 3. Five strategic objectives: To meet the ambitions of our vision and mission statements and to reach our key audiences EARA has identified five core strategy objectives for the next 5 years. 1. Adapt the existing framework of policies, practices, procedures, and responsibilities for the effective management of EARA and manage the association s growth through the creation of a new governance structure. 2. To represent the European life sciences sector at EU institutions and at European national authority level 3. To improve public awareness and acceptance of the importance of the use of animals for biomedical research for human, animal and environmental benefit. 4. To facilitate choice and sustainability in the supply chain for animal research 5. To ensure the expansion of the EARA network across Europe. To assist in the formation of national advocacy networks. To achieve these objectives and to lay the basis for our long-term strategy, EARA will follow a core activity plan with detailed actions, and where appropriate, timelines. Areas of work will necessarily cross over between the key audiences for instance, a visit to a university to encourage openness could mean a critical mass of institutions is achieved for a national transparency agreement to be possible. It could also result in a facility offering to host a visit for journalists or regulators. In all its activities, EARA will lead and co-ordinate the life sciences sector (working in human and animal health) and work in partnership with other stakeholders to engage with target audiences, such as the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), the Federation of European Academies of Medicine (FEAM), the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA) and the League of European Research Universities (LERU). The new EARA strategy is for five years. A number of the timelines for delivery of objectives are one and two years. Some workstreams will seek to maintain ongoing work essential to the mission of EARA. Page 8 of 14

9 4. Strategy implementation Strategy objectives and responsibilities OBJECTIVE ONE: Adapt the existing framework of policies, practices, procedures, and responsibilities for the effective management of EARA and manage EARA s growth through the creation of a new governance structure - We will establish a defined procedure for the election of key positions (e.g. Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer) to the EARA board, including procedures for elections and terms of office. - We will create a Finance and General Purposes Committee. This Committee will be responsible for the development of policy and practices, for approval by the EARA Board, for the effective management and control of the financial and staffing affairs of EARA. - We will review and revise the EARA bylaws to ensure that these changes are in line with the Articles of Association. Actions: 1. The Finance and General Purposes Committee shall be established: Q Review of EARA bylaws, proposals for Board elections, establishment of Board positions: Q RESPONSIBILITY: Board Committee, including the Chair, Executive Director, representatives from public and private research. Page 9 of 14

10 OBJECTIVE TWO: To represent the European life sciences sector at EU institutions and at European national authority level EARA will work to ensure that there remains a broad and high level of political and regulatory support for animal research in Europe and associated states. The success of this aim will depend on developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with a wide range of European stakeholders, in particular the European Commission and Parliament, and national authorities. Our aim is to communicate effectively to these audiences, that animal research is of a high quality, humanely conducted, well designed, properly peer reviewed, ethically justified, accurately reported, and fully incorporating the 3Rs. For as long as animal research is necessary, it will remain vital to maintain public acceptance, and ensure that the legal, regulatory and policy environment remains favourable. EARA s long term aim is to be recognised as the European voice for animal based biomedical research and healthcare development. Actions: 1. Continue to work with DG Environment to improve transparency on animal research, as outlined in the published review of Directive 2010/63/EU. Projects to include Non-Technical Summaries, Publication of Animal Use Statistics and Institutional Openness: Maintain 2. Remain engaged with the European Union and national policymakers to ensure the full and correct implementation of the Directive 2010/63/EU, and other related regulation through liaison with other our membership: Maintain 3. Maintain collaboration with national groups and other associations such as European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries (EFPIA), to ensure that regulatory and political challenges to the licence to operate are contained: Maintain 4. Work to ensure the continuation and development of the European Life Sciences Alliance (ELSA) platform, including outreach with the European Parliament and Commission : Maintain 5. Through the EARA Brexit Taskforce, continue to co-ordinate the life sciences sector s response to the challenges and opportunities presented by Brexit: Maintain Responsibility: Executive Director, EARA staff and Board. Page 10 of 14

11 OBJECTIVE THREE: To improve public awareness and acceptance of the importance of the use of animals for biomedical research, for human, animal and environmental benefit EARA will llead and support openness and transparency initiatives among researchers, institutions, funders and other organisations, so that reference to, and explanation of, animal research becomes an accepted and normal part of the narrative of their work. Encouraging and facilitating these institutions to further engagement with their own audiences and where appropriate, leading or collaborating on national transparency agreements. EARA will work to maintain and improve levels of public acceptance of medical and veterinary research using animals. We will seek to increase routine and positive media coverage of advances in biomedical research involving animals. EARA will seek to position itself as the first stop for journalists looking for information about animal research in Europe. It will monitor media coverage of this issue and react strongly to correct misinformation where necessary. We will also work with the media to improve access to institutions and help create an environment of trust, so that a more balanced public narrative of animal research is achieved. On this we will work closely with Science Media Centres developing across Europe and national associations. Where appropriate EARA will lead and collaborate to support the creation of independent national organisations, such as Research4life in Italy, where we can play a mentoring and supportive role. These organisations will be the leading national animal research defence, or advocacy groups, in their respective countries, combining public and private research organisations. In certain circumstances, EARA may, certainly in the early stages, have a more direct handson co-ordinating role in the creation and development of such groups. However, we remain flexible as to what is the most effective long-term relationship, between EARA and any new national advocacy group that may be created. It is evident that any new local group will need EARA s help and support to establish itself. This may, as we saw with the creation of Research4Life in Italy, lead to some local financial support for EARA being partially (or wholly) redirected, to this new advocacy group. This possible financial re-direction should be assessed on a case by case basis. Where appropriate, and crucially where local support exists, we will facilitate the creation of national networks. And alternatively, we can foresee a scenario where EARA would directly aid financially and logistically (with the agreement of the EARA Board) - the establishment of a local co-ordinating group, rather than a national body, possibly based around the management and operation of a national transparency agreement. The key factor that will determine the deployment of any substantial EARA resources in any country is the existence of a local group that has both the resources and capability to play a representative national role. We will seek to achieve a measurable understanding of the level of support from public opinion across the major European countries for animal research. Realistically, the only way to achieve this goal is through benchmark opinion polling. The potential costs to EARA of this project are prohibitive. We would need to find partners who would see the value of contributing intellectually and financially to this project. Page 11 of 14

12 Actions: 1. Develop a more user-friendly website, and content for new EARA information publications: Q and Q Strengthen EARA s social media presence and maximise visibility online by significantly improving our media footprint (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn). Expand our social media ambassador work across Europe: Ongoing 4. Provide communications support for member organisations where needed. Publish the EARA Communications Handbook; work with members through face-to-face meetings and webinars to implement the guidelines: Q4 2018, and Produce a report on EARA s survey of Institutional Openness, share with European Commission and Competent Authorites: Q Support the efforts of institutions to increase the number of researchers prepared to engage with the media and the public on the need for animal research: Maintain 6. Co-ordinate efforts to create new national advocacy groups: Maintain; Implement a national transparency agreement in a fourth European country Q1 2019; Create guidance for the creation of national Transparency Agreement Q2 2019; Carry out and publish the assessment of the Spanish Transparency Agreement: Q : Eight national transparency agreements operational: Collaborate with patient groups, and or medical research charities, to ensure that reference to the animal research they fund is a normal part of their communication practice: Ongoing 8. Explore with the European Commission the feasibility of running a pan-european opinion poll on animal research. This can act as a bench mark to assess the development of public support for animal research: Before Q (Proposed date for review of Directive 2010/63/EU) 9. Monetising EARA services to members and non-members for communications and other training: 2023 Responsibility: Executive Director, Communications manager Page 12 of 14

13 OBJECTIVE FOUR: To facilitate choice and sustainability in the supply chain for animal research To strengthen the licence to operate for bioscience in Europe, EARA will llead pan-european initiatives, to counter pressure on the laboratory animals supply chain and the licence to use laboratory animals in research. EARA will also liaise with global partners to support the efforts of animal research facilities to access goods, and improve the support from the financial services sector, needed to discover and develop new medicines and treatments for humans and animals and to further scientific understanding. We would wish to see agreement by more commercial transport companies that they are prepared to transport laboratory research animals. Our long-term aim should be that there are a number of sustainable service providers prepared to transport, if required, NHPs, canines and mini-pigs into and across Europe. Actions: 1. Continue to support global initiatives seeking to improve the sustainability of the supply chain: Maintain 2. Continue to give support to those transport providers who see the need to transport laboratory research animals Maintain 3. Give communications support to any service provider who needs expert advice when challenged over their involvement in the supply chain: Maintain 4. Work to find alternative transport providers: Maintain 5. Help co-ordinate the life sciences sector s planning for the complexities and opportunities for the supply chain presented by Brexit: Ongoing Responsibility: Executive Director Page 13 of 14

14 OBJECTIVE FIVE: To ensure the expansion of the EARA network across Europe. To assist in the formation of national advocacy networks. We wish to see EARA members in all European countries. Our aim is that that the current membership of private and public research, animal breeders, and equipment suppliers, CROs and national and European associations is widened to include patient groups and medical research charities. There is no rationale to amend the EARA key target country list of Spain, Belgium, Germany and Italy. However we wish to see Central Europe as a geographical area where EARA will seek local partnerships. Other countries should be assessed on a case by case basis. It is clear that there will be a continued need for a pan-european organisation, representing public and private research interests regarding the supply chain, in areas such as regulation, transport, communications support and wider communications to the public and political decision makers, and in liaison with other regional advocacy groups, in particular the USA. Actions: 1. Ensure that by the end of 2018 EARA will have close to 80 members, and by 2019, 90 members, including members in all European countries. By 2023 we would hope to have 150 Institutions as members of EARA: Q4 2018, Q and Q Continue growth of EARA in the target countries that do not yet have a local advocacy group or network, Spain, Belgium, and Germany: Maintain 3. EARA membership to include 10 patient groups, and or medical research charities, who will be pro-active in communicating their funding of animal research: Use results from EARA s survey of Institutional Openness to recruit new members in 5 countries where we currently have no members: Professionalise our interactions with our members by the adoption of a Customer Relations Management system: Q Responsibility: Executive Director, Communication manager, EARA staff, Finance and General Purpose Committee Board working group, 10 September 2018 Page 14 of 14