Welcome to the University of Oxford. We aim to lead the world in research and education for the benefit of society both in the UK and globally. Oxford’s researchers engage with academic, commercial and cultural partners across the world to stimulate high-quality research and enable innovation through a broad range of social, policy and economic impacts.

We believe our strengths lie both in empowering individuals and teams to address fundamental questions of global significance, while providing all our staff with a welcoming and inclusive workplace that enables everyone to develop and do their best work. Recognising that diversity is our strength, vital for innovation and creativity, we aspire to build a truly diverse community which values and respects every individual’s unique contribution.

While we have long traditions of scholarship, we are also forward-looking, creative and cutting-edge. Oxford is one of Europe’s most entrepreneurial universities and we rank first in the UK for university spin-outs, and in recent years we have spun out 15-20 new companies every year. We are also recognised as leaders in support for social enterprise.

Join us and you will find a unique, democratic and international community, a great range of staff benefits and access to a vibrant array of cultural activities in the beautiful city of Oxford.

For more information, please visit www.ox.ac.uk/about/organisation.

Our mission is to support science of the highest quality by educating and training University researchers working with animals, in a spirit of compassion and respect for animal welfare. Our goal is to deliver outstanding veterinary and research support services to our clients and constantly to improve the level of these services.

The Biomedical Services Department encompasses a number of different functions within the University. The Head of Department is the Director of Biomedical Services.

The various functions of the department can be summarised as follows –

• The provision of care to all the various animal species housed at the University of Oxford and facilities and resources for research on animals.
• Running training courses for licensees and others working under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
• Acting as Named Animal Care and Welfare Officers under the Animals (Scientifc Procedures) Act 1986 to all the University’s animal using departments. This is a legal requirement for the University to retain its Establishment Licence, which it requires in order to be able to carry out any research using animals.
• A team solely responsible for Home Office liaison and processing of project and personal licences to ensure that research on animals can be undertaken at the University of Oxford.
• Acting as Named Veterinary Surgeon under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to all the University’s animal using departments. This is a legal requirement for the University to retain its Establishment Licence, which it requires in order to be able to carry out any research using animals.
• Providing a clinical veterinary service to all the University’s animal using departments.
• Providing advice and technical support for projects undertaken by University researchers.
• Participating in the ethical review process relating to animal use throughout the University. This is also a requirement under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
• Supervising rabies quarantine areas for DEFRA under the Animal Health Act 1981.

As the level of veterinary service and resources for animal care provided to the scientific community over recent years has increased, so the demand for it has risen. The beneficial effects of this are clear to see in the improved standards of animal health and welfare, producing better quality science and use of animals which can therefore be better justified. All the work is set by the legal requirements to enable the University to carry out its animal based research activity, which attracts substantial funding.