Despite the recognised need for education and training in laboratory animal science (LAS) and ethics in Africa, access to such opportunities has historically been limited. To address this, the Pan-African Network for Laboratory Animal Science and Ethics (PAN-LASE) was established to pioneer a support network for the development of education and training in LAS and ethics across the African continent. In the 4.5 years since the establishment of PAN-LASE, 3635 individuals from 28 African countries have participated in our educational activities. Returning to their home institutions, they have both established and strengthened institutional and regional hubs of knowledge and competence across the continent. Additionally, PAN-LASE supported the development of guidelines for establishment of institutional Animal Ethics Committees, a critical step in the implementation of ethical review processes across the continent, and in enhancing animal welfare and scientific research standards. Key challenges and opportunities for PAN-LASE going forward include the formalisation of the network; the sustainability of education and training programmes; implementation of effective hub-and-spoke models of educational provision; strengthening governance frameworks at institutional, national and regional levels; and the availability of Africa-centric open access educational resources. Our activities are enhancing animal welfare and the quality of animal research undertaken across Africa, enabling African researchers to undertake world-leading research to offer solutions to the challenges facing the continent. The challenges, successes and the lessons learnt from PAN-LASE’s journey are applicable to other low- and middle-income countries across the world seeking to enhance animal welfare, research ethics and ethical review in their own country or region.

The Pan-African Network for Laboratory Animal Science and Ethics (PAN-LASE) pro-vides professional education opportunities for all those involved in the care and use of animals in research across Africa, and supports the development of structures, policies and procedures to facilitate high-quality, humane research involving animals across the continent. To ensure the continued, sustainable growth and development of its activi-ties, PAN-LASE founding members and other key stakeholders convened in Kenya to co-create a forward-thinking Road Map for the organisation. The Road Map includes the following recommendations: creating Africa-centric learn-ing opportunities and resources; changing mind-sets on animal welfare; supporting the development of research animal sciences associations; creating structures, processes and organisations that reflect Africa; engaging with key national and pan-African reg-ulatory organisations and stakeholders; identifying unique selling points for African research involving animals; creating a PAN-LASE Steering Committee. These recommendations will enable the sustainable growth and development of PAN-LASE across Africa by providing solutions that will work for Africa. Our Road Map is also applicable to other animal welfare sectors, other pillars of the One Health Triad, and to other resource constrained countries or regions. A template for interested parties to develop similar activities in their own discipline, country or region.