Vera Baumans
vera.baumans@admin.ki.se
Prof Vera Baumans currently holds the Chair in Laboratory Animal
Science at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden and is also still
working as an Animal Welfare Officer at Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
She is involved in organizing of and teaching at courses in Laboratory
Animal Science in many countries and she recently established such a course
at Karolinska Institutet.
Her research field is “ Environment, behaviour and well-being of laboratory
animals”.
She is founding member and secretary of the European College of Laboratory
Animal Medicine.
Curriculum Vitae
Thesis
Current Research Project
Full Publication List
Curriculum Vitae
Name: Vera Baumans
Address: Veterinary Resources
Karolinska Institutet
17177 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: *46 8 728 6786
Fax: *46 8 33 9247
E-mail: vera.baumans@admin.ki.se
Hobbies: music (playing violin)
ball room and tango dancing
Professional Activities
Date of Birth: 21 October 1946
Marital status: married to Jan Meijer
one child: Catelijne (21 March 1973)
Education: Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 1964-1972
DVM, September 1972
PhD studies: Department of Functional Morphology, Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 1977-1982
PhD thesis: Regulation of Testicular Descent in the Dog, October 1982
2001- · Professor in Laboratory Animal Science,Karolinska
Institute,Stockholm,Sweden
1983-2001 · Animal Welfare Officer, Utrecht University
and Utrecht University Medical Centre. Responsible for the welfare of the
laboratory animals and supervision of the competence of scientists and
technicians. Number of animals used per year: about 60,000
· Research on housing and welfare of laboratory animals at the
Dept. of Laboratory Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
· Organizer/Lecturer in 3-weeks Laboratory Animal Science courses
(12-14 courses per year) at the Dept. of Laboratory Animal Science
· Organizer/Lecturer in Laboratory Animal Science courses in
Brussels, Lisbon, Budapest, Odense, Aarhus, Riga.
1977-1983 · PhD Research into the regulation of testicular
descent in the dog at the Dept. of Functional Morphology, Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine
· Lecturer Veterinary Anatomy
1972-1977 · Mixed veterinary practice, covering farm
and companion animals, Woerden, The Netherlands
Professional Organizations
· Dutch Association for Laboratory Animal Science (NVP) (Secretary
1984-1987, President 1987-1993)
· Federation of Laboratory Animal Science Association (FELASA)
(Member 1985-1990, Secretary 1990-1994, Vice-president 1994-1995)
· International Council for Laboratory Animal Science (ICLAS)
(Scientific member 1990-1995, national member from 1995)
· Royal Dutch Veterinary Association (Member from 1972)
· Dutch Small Animal Veterinary Association (Member from 1980)
· Council of Management of Laboratory Animals Ltd., (Member
from 1997)
· European Society for Laboratory Animal Veterinarians (Member
from 1998)
· EU working party on Euthanasia of Laboratory Animals (Member
from 1996)
· European College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (Member of
steering group from 1998; charter diplomat from 2000,secretary from 2000)
· Representative of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe
( FVE) in Multilateral Consultation of parties to the European Convention
for the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other
scientific purposes, of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg, (Member from
1994)
· Rodent and Rabbits Expert Group of the Council of Europe for
the revision of the Convention ETS 123 Appendix A (Member from 1998)
Supervision of doctoral candidates/postgraduate
teaching
· Chief supervision of PhD students at Utrecht University:
1993 Dr. Harry Blom (Evaluation of housing conditions
for laboratory mice and rats).
1996 Dr. Heleen van de Weerd (Environmental enrichment
for laboratory mice: preferences and consequences)
2001 Dr. Miriam van der Meer (Transgenesis and animal
welfare,implications of transgenic procedures for the well-being of the
laboratory mouse)
2001 Dr. Pascalle van Loo (Male Management : coping with
aggression problems in male laboratory mice)
Drs. Margot Meijer (Routine procedures and stress-response in
laboratory animals: influence of environmental factors). Started 2001·
Co-supervision of:
2000 Dr. Klaas Kramer (Applications and evaluation of
radio-telemetry in small laboratory animals).
2000 Dr. Zainal Haberham (Development and evaluation of
methods for assessment of quality of anaesthesia in the rat
· Supervision of post docs :
- 2001 Dr Pascalle van Loo (Utrecht University)
- 2002 Dr Therese Pham ( Karolinska Institute)
Laboratory
Animal Science
Laboratory Animal Science is a multidisciplinary, auxiliary science
contributing to the humane use and care of laboratory animals and to the
quality of animal experimentation. It includes the biology of laboratory
animals, their environmental requirements, genetic backgrounds, prevention
and treatment of diseases, optimising experimental techniques, reduction
of pain and discomfort ( eg anaesthesia and analgesia), possibilities for
alternatives to the use of animals and ethical aspects of animal experimentation.
The keywords in this field are the welfare of laboratory animals and
connected with that the quality of animal experiments.
Guiding principles are the three R´s of Replacement of living
animals by in vitro techniques, computerized models, videos etc, Reduction
of the number of animals by using suitable experimental designs, by controlling
environmental factors and by standardizing the animal population and Refinement
of the experimental procedures and the environmental conditions of the
animals, in order to minimize pain and distress and to meet the physiological
and behavioural needs of the animals.
Worldwide about 100 million vertebrates per year are used, contributing
mostly to the advance of biomedical science and experiencing minor to severe
discomfort.
Ca 80 % of the used vertebrates are rats and mice . Ethical problems
with animal experimentation has been raised from the public, leading to
legislation on the use of laboratory animals in Europe.
The environment of the laboratory animal has a great impact on the
laboratory animal, thereby influencing the outcome of experiments. Standardisation
of the environment has been seen as a main factor in reducing the number
of the animals used and together with economical and ergonomical aspects
have led to laboratory animal housing, not meeting the animal`s behavioural
and physiological needs, which may result in abnormal behaviour and disease.
Environmental enrichment allow the animals to express more of their species
specific behaviour, which reduces stress in the animals, thereby making
them a more suitable animal model . However, changes in housing conditions
often meet reluctance due to several factors, such as variation in experimental
results, which may occur, dependent of eg the type of enrichment and the
parameter used.
Heading, Top
Publications
Refereed Papers
*Blom, H.J.M., G. van Tintelen, V. Baumans, J. van den Broek, A.C. Beynen
(1995). Development and application of a preference test system to evaluate
housing conditions for laboratory rats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science
43: 279-290.
**Weerd H.A. van de, V. Baumans (1995). Environmental Enrichment in
Rodents. In: Environmental enrichment information resources for laboratory
animals. AWIC Resource Series No. 2: 145-149
**Baumans, V., H.A. van de Weerd (1996). Enrichment of laboratory animal
housing: basic need or luxury? Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal
Science 1: 93-95.
*Blom, H.J.M., G. van Tintelen, C.J.A.H.V. van Vorstenbosch, V. Baumans,
A.C. Beynen (1996). Preferences of mice and rats for types of bedding material.
Laboratory Animals 30: 234-244.
Close, B., K. Banister, V. Baumans, E. Bernoth, N. Bromage, J. Bunyan,
W. Erhardt, P. Flecknell, N. Gregory, H. Hackbarth (1996). Recommendations
for euthanasia of experimental animals: part 1. Laboratory Animals 30:
293-316. part 2. Laboratory Animals 31: 1-32.
*Dahlborn, K., B.A.A. van Gils, H.A. van de Weerd, J.E. van Dijk, V.
Baumans (1996). Evaluation of long term environmental enrichment in the
mouse. Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 1: 97-106.
Meer, M. van der, V. Baumans, L.F.M. van Zutphen (1996). Transgenic
animals: what about their well-being? Scandinavian Journal of Laboratory
Animal Science 1: 287-290.
*Weerd H.A. van de, F.A.R. van der Broek, V. Baumans (1996). Preference
for different types of flooring in two rat strains. Applied Animal Behaviour
Science 46: 251-261.
**Weerd H.A. van de, V. Baumans, J.M. Koolhaas, L.F.M. van Zutphen
(1996). Nesting material as enrichment in two mouse strains. Scandinavian
Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 1: 119-123.
Herck, H. van, S.F. de Boer, A.P.M. Hesp, H.A. van Lith, V. Baumans,
A.C. Beynen (1997). Orbital bleeding in rats while under di-ethylether
anaesthesia does not influence telemetrically determined heart rate, body
temperature, locomotor and eating activity when compared with anaesthesia
alone. Laboratory Animals 31: 271-278.
Loo, P.L.P. van, L.A. Everse, M.R. Bernsen, V. Baumans, L.J. Hellebrekers,
C.L.J.J. Kruitwagen, W. den Otter (1997). Analgesics in mice used in cancer
research: reduction of discomfort? Laboratory Animals 31: 318-325.
*Weerd, H.A. van de, P.L.P. van Loo, L.F.M. van Zutphen, J.M. Koolhaas,
V. Baumans (1997). Nesting material as environmental enrichment has no
adverse effects on behavior and physiology of laboratory mice. Physiology
& Behavior 62(5): 1019-1028.
**Weerd, H.A. van de, P.L.P. van Loo, L.F.M. van Zutphen, J.M. Koolhaas,
V. Baumans (1997). Preferences for nesting material as environmental enrichment
for laboratory mice. Laboratory Animals 31(2): 133-143.
Festing, M.F.W., V. Baumans, R.D. Combes, M. Halder, C.F.M. Hendriksen,
B.R. Howard, D.P. Lovell, G.J. Moore, Ph. Overend, M.S. Wilson (1998).
Reducing the use of laboratory animals in biomedical research: Problems
and possible solutions. ATLA 26: 283-301.
Herck, H. van, V. Baumans, C.J.W.M. Brandt, A.P.M. Hesp, J.H. Sturkenboom,
H.A. van Lith, G. van Tintelen, A.C. Beynen (1998). Orbital sinus blood
sampling in rats as performed by different animal technicians: the influence
of technique and expertise. Laboratory Animals 32: 377-386.
Leenaars, P.P.A.M., M.A. Koedam, P.W. Wester, V. Baumans, E. Claassen,
C.F.M. Hendriksen (1998). Assessment of side effects induced by injection
of different adjuvant/antigen combinations in rabbits and mice. Laboratory
Animals 32: 387-406.
*Weerd H.A. van de, P.L.P. van Loo, L.F.M. van Zutphen, J.M. Koolhaas,
V. Baumans (1998). Preferences for nest boxes as environmental enrichment
for laboratory mice. Animal Welfare 7(1): 11-25.
Baumans, V. (1998). Enrichment bei Labormäuse: Eine Sache für
Mäuse und Menschen. Tierlaboratorium 21: 59-62.
Baumans, V., J.C. Meijer, Z.L. Haberham, H.N.M. de Groot, L.J. Hellebrekers
(1998). Euthanasie bij jonge biggen: gas of injectie? Tijdschrift voor
Diergeneeskunde 24: 738-742.
Haberham Z.L., W.E. van den Brom, A.J. Venker-van Haagen, V. Baumans,
H.N.M. de Groot, L.J. Hellebrekers.(1999) EEG evaluation of reflex testing
as assessment of depth of pentobarbital anaesthesia en the rat. Laboratory
Animals 33: pp 47-57.
Meer M. van der, P. Costa, V. Baumans, B. Olivier and LFM van Zutphen.(1999)
Welfare assessment of transgenic animals: behavioural responses and morphological
development of new born mice. ATLA 27, pp857-868
Weerd H.A. van de, V. Baumans.(1999) Evaluation of Environmental Enrichment
for Laboratory Mice. AWIC Bulletin, Vol. 9, No. 3-4, pp 1-2, 18-19
Meer, M. van der, V. Baumans, L.F.M. van Zutphen (1998). Use of transgenic
animals and animal welfare. The Ethics of Animal Experimentation. Proceedings
of the European Congress, Brussels, 273-273.
Publications in books
Baumans, V., R.G.M. ten Berg, A.P.M.G. Bertens, H.J. Hackbarth, A. Timmermans
(1993,2001). Experimental procedures. L.F.M. van Zutphen, V. Baumans, A.C.
Beynen (eds.). Principles of Laboratory Animal Science. Elsevier, Amsterdam,313-333.
Baumans V, H.L. Bartels, A.P.M.G. Bertens, H. van Herck, R. Hoenderken
and F. Schlingmann. (1994). Euthanasia methods used for laboratory animals
in the Netherlands. In: Welfare and Science. J. Bunyan (ed.) Royal Society
of Medicine Press, London, UK.
Close, B. and V. Baumans (1994). Laboratory Animal Euthanasia – a new
report. In: Welfare and Science. J. Bunyan (ed.) Royal Society of Medicine
Press, London, UK.
Weerd, H.A. van de and V. Baumans (1995). Environmental enrichment in
rodents. Environmental enrichment information resources for laboratory
animals: 1965-1995. AWIC 145?149, USDA, Washington DC, U.S.A.
*Koolhaas, J.M., V. Baumans, H.J.M. Blom, D. von Holst, P.J.A. Timmermans,
P.R. Wiepkema (1993). Behaviour, stress and well-being. L.F.M. van Zutphen,
V. Baumans, A.C. Beynen (eds.). Principles of laboratory animal science.
Elsevier, Amsterdam, 75-100.
Herck H. van, V. Baumans, S.F. de Boer.(1994). Assessment of Discomfort
in Laboratory Animals. In: Autoimmune Disease Models, A Guidebook, eds.
J.R. Cohen, A. Miller. Academic Press, US, 303-320.
Baumans, V., H. van Herck (1995). Refining anaesthetic techniques in
a laboratory animal facility. A.M. Goldberg, L.F.M. van Zutphen (eds.).
Alternative Methods in Toxicology and the Life Sciences. Mary Ann Liebert
Inc., New York, 619-621.Baumans,V ( 1999) The Laboratory Mouse. In : The
UFAW Handbook on The Care and Management of Laboratory Animals vol 1,ed
T.Poole, Blackwell Science,UK
Van Herck H, BaumansV, Boere HAG, Hesp APM, van Lith HA, Beynen AC
(2000). Orbital sinus blood sampling in rats: effects upon selected behavioural
variables. Laboratory Animals 34: 10-19.
Van Loo PLP, Kruitwagen CLJJ, Van Zutphen LFM, Koolhaas JM and Baumans
V (2000). Modulation of aggression in male mice: influence of cage cleaning
regime and scent marks. Animal Welfare, 9: 281-295.
Baumans V and Van Zutphen LFM (2000). Laboratory Animal Science and
Education. Baltic Journal of Laboratory Animal Science 10: 144-147
*Baumans V, Bouwknecht JA, Boere HAG, Kramer K, van Lith HA, van de
Weerd HA, van Herck H (2001). Intra abdominal transmitter implantation
in mice: effects on behaviour and body weight. Animal Welfare 10: 291-302
Van der Meer M, Baumans V, Olivier B and Van Zutphen LFM (2001). Impact
of transgenic procedures on behavioral and physiological responses in post-weaning
mice. Physiology and Behavior 73: 133-143
Van der Meer M, Baumans V, Olivier B, Kruitwagen CLJJ, Van Dijk JE
and Van Zutphen LFM (2001). Behavioral and physiological effects of biotechnology
procedures used for gene targeting in mice. Physiology and Behavior 73:
719-730.
Van der Meer M, Rolls A, Baumans V, Olivier B and Van Zutphen LFM (2001).
Use of score sheets for welfare assessment of transgenic mice. Laboratory
Animals 35: 379-389.
Van Herck H, Baumans V, Brandt CJWM, Boere HAG, Hesp APM, Van Lith
HA, Schurink M, Beynen AC (2001). Blood sampling from the retro-orbital
plexus, the saphenous vein and the tail vein in rats: comparative effects
on selected behavioural and blood variables. Laboratory Animals 35: 131-139
*Van Loo PLP, de Groot AC, Van Zutphen LFM and Baumans V (2001). Do
male mice prefer or avoid each other's company? Influence of hierarchy,
kinship and familiarity. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 4 (2):
91-103
Van der Meer M, Baumans V, Olivier B, Kruitwagen CLJJ, Van Dijk JE
and Van Zutphen LFM (2001). Behavioral and physiological effects of biotechnology
procedures used for gene targeting in mice. Physiology and Behavior 73:
719-730.
Van der Meer M, Rolls A, Baumans V, Olivier B and Van Zutphen LFM (2001).
Use of score sheets for welfare assessment of transgenic mice. Laboratory
Animals 35: 379-389.
Van Herck H, Baumans V, Brandt CJWM, Boere HAG, Hesp APM, Van Lith
HA, Schurink M, Beynen AC (2001). Blood sampling from the retro-orbital
plexus, the saphenous vein and the tail vein in rats: comparative effects
on selected behavioural and blood variables. Laboratory Animals 35: 131-139
*Van Loo PLP, Mol JA, Koolhaas JM, Van Zutphen LFM Baumans V (2001).
Modulation of aggression in male mice: influence of group size and cage
size. Physiology & Behavior 72: 675-683.Van der Meer M, Baumans V,
Hofhuis FMA, Olivier B, Van Zutphen LFM (2001). Consequences of gene targeting
procedures for behavioural responses and morphological development of newborn
mice. Transgenic Reserach 10: 399-408.Baumans V, Schlingmann F, Vonck M,
Van Lith HA, (2002) Individually Ventilated Cages : Beneficial for Mice
and Men? Contemporary Topics 41, 1: 13-19**Van Loo PLP, Kruitwagen CLJJ,
Koolhaas JM, Van de Weerd HA, Van Zutphen LFM and Baumans V (2002). Influence
of cage enrichment on aggressive behaviour and physiological parameters
in male mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 76: 65-81
Proceedings
Schlingmann, F., H.A. van de Weerd, V. Baumans, H.J.M. Blom, L.F.M.
van Zutphen (1994). Behavioural differentiation of mice housed on different
cage floors. Proceedings of the Vth FELASA symposium, Brighton 1993, 355-357
Weerd, H.A. van de, V. Baumans, H.J.M. Blom, L.F.M. van Zutphen (1994).
Behavioural consequences of environmental enrichment in two strains of
mice. Proceedings of the Vth FELASA symposium 49-53.
Baumans, V. H.A. van de Weerd (1995). Environmental enrichment and
welfare of laboratory rodents. Proceedings of Animals in Science conference
1995, Melbourne. Ed: N.E. Johnston pp. 153-156.
Van Loo, P.L.P., H.A. van de Weerd, V. Baumans. Short and long term
influence of an easy applicable enrichment device on the behaviour of the
laboratory mouse. Proceedings of the joint international conference of
ICLAS, Scand-LAS and FinLAS 1995, Helsinki (1996) 113-118
Bulthuis R.J.A., A.F. Bergman, S. Nijessen, F. Schlingmann, J. Tolboom,
R. Remie, H.A. van de Weerd, P.L.P. van Loo, V. Baumans, L.F.M. van Zutphen.
Automated behaviour classification: the LABORAS project. Proceedings of
the 6th FELASA symposium 1996, Basel (1997) 17-18
Loo, P.L.P. van, V. Baumans – Preference of subordinate male mice for
their dominant cage mate – Aktuelle Arbeiten zur artgemäben Tierhaltung,
Schrift 380 (1998) pp. 45-52 8 pp.
Loo, P.L.P. van, V. Baumans, L.F.M. van Zutphen – Modulation of aggression
through different cage cleaning procedures in mice – Proceedings ISAE Meeting
‘98. Clermont-Ferrand, France 21-25 July (1998), pp. 50 1 pp.
Baumans V (2000). Assessment of pain and discomfort in laboratory animals.
Proceedings ICLAS/FELASA congress, May 1999 pp15-18.
Baumans V, Bouwknecht JA, Boere H, Kramer K, van Lith HA, van de Weerd
HA, Van Herck H (2000). Intraperitonial transmitter implantation in mice:
effects on behavioural parameters and body weight. Proceedings ICLAS/FELASA
congress, May 1999 pp143-145.
Van Loo PLP, Van Zutphen LFM and Baumans V (2000). Influence of group
size and space allowance on the level of aggression in male laboratory
mice. Proceedings ICLAS/FELASA congress, May 1999 pp201-204.
Van der Meer M, Baumans V and Van Zutphen LFM (2000). Welfare assessment
of newborn transgenic mice. Proceedings ICLAS/FELASA congress, May 1999
pp 211-213.
Kornerup Hansen A, Baumans V, Elliot H, Francis R, Holgate B, Hubrecht
R, Jennings M, Peters A and Stauffacher M (2000). Principles of changing
in housing demands for laboratory rodents and rabbits. Proceedings ICLAS/FELASA
congress, May 1999 pp 214-217.