---

Animal Procedures Committee

On behalf of the Home Secretary and the Minister for the Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety for Northern Ireland, I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Hannah Buchanan-Smith, Mr. Michael Dennis, Dr. Ian Peers, Dr. David Smith and Mrs Sarah Wolfensohn as members of the Animal Procedures Committee from 2 February 2009, each for a four-year term. Professor Hannah Buchanan-Smith of the University of Stirling has considerable expertise and knowledge of primate behaviour and welfare. Professor Buchanan-Smith has also worked widely as a consultant to industry and researched, with the pharmaceutical industry, primate behaviour in laboratory environments. Mr. Michael Dennis, a microbiologist with the Health Protection Agency, has considerable experience in scientific procedures involving both rodents and primates, including using category 4 facilities (facilities that contain highly infectious human pathogens). Mr. Dennis has also authored on the subject of care management of laboratory animals. Dr. Ian Peers is a statistician with Astra Zeneca with experience of biostatistics and experimental design. Dr. Peers has experience of working with a wide range of species (including fish and primates) and manages a global statistics resource. Dr. David Smith, a senior director for Astra Zeneca and president of the Laboratory Animal Science Association (LASA), has a thorough knowledge of industry practices, and excellent engagement with welfare interests and working across the spectrum of stakeholders in this field. Mrs Sarah Wolfensohn, a veterinary practitioner with the University of Oxford, has a thorough working knowledge of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, extensive experience of working with a wide range of species, in particular primates, but also including other regularly used laboratory animals and livestock and has been involved in the design of animal facilities in the UK and overseas. I welcome the contribution that each new member will bring to this important Advisory Committee.