Newcastle University

Background

I undertook a degree in Zoology at the University of Southampton in 1992, which lead to an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour & Welfare at the the University of Edinburgh in 1995. During this time I developed an interest in animal welfare and behaviour. This initially lead me into research investigating the welfare of captive elephants in the UK. Subsequently, I undertook a PhD in Laboratory Animal Welfare at the University of Birmingham which included research into euthanasia, husbandry and housing of laboratory animals. These research topics have formed the basis of my research career since. At the University of Bristol I undertook projects to develop a welfare benchmarking scheme for laboratory mice, investigate the standard of mouse welfare in the UK and to identify the most critical welfare issues affecting wildlife around the world. I continue to actively participate in these research areas. Since joining the University of Newcastle I have been involved in further research improving the welfare of laboratory animals.

Roles and Responsibilities

I am responsible for research project design and statistics, supervision of undergraduate, post-graduate and post-doctoral students. I also provide general guidance and training in research methodology and statistics training. I assist other members of the research group with their research as necessary as well as conducting my own research. I am also involved in preparing grant submissions, drafting research publications, editing and reviewing publications of other researchers in the group.

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) in Zoology from the University of Southampton
MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour & Welfare from the University of Edinburgh
PhD in Laboratory Animal Welfare from the University of Birmingham

Previous Positions

Post-doctoral Research Associate at the University of Birmingham (2002)
Post-doctoral Research Associate at the University of Bristol (2002 to 2005)

Memberships

Co-Founder and Member of the Consensus group on Carbon Dioxide Euthanasia of Laboratory Animals
Member of Animal Welfare Science, Ethics & Law Veterinary Association

Honours and Awards

Significant contribution to the FELASA Animal Welfare Award 2007

Languages

English
Some German
A little Arabic

Informal Interests

Dogs (walking of)
Mountain Biking
Walking
Camping

Research Interests

Developing methods for assessing and alleviating post-procedure pain and distress in laboratory animals, including rats, mice, rabbits and rhesus macaques. Identifying and implementing novel methods of assessing welfare, pain and distress in animals. Identifying, testing and implementing refinements to improve the welfare of laboratory animals. The development of educational materials to assist those involved in animal-based research to refine the procedures that they carry out improving welfare standards.

Other Expertise

Developing and implementing welfare benchmarking schemes for laboratory, pet and wild animals. The assessment of behaviour and welfare of a wide range of captive and wild animals. The use of experimental models and statistical analysis in animal-based research.

Current Work

I am currently undertaking a three year BBSRC funded research project to further develop and validate the use of facial expressions for the assessment of pain in rodents, rabbits and macaques. This initially involves further validating the existing assessment schemes in rodents to assess post-procedural pain. Following on from this I plan to develop and validate similar systems for assessing post-procedural pain in rabbits and rhesus macaques. 

Future Research

I hope to undertake further projects to develop more effective methods of assessing pain and distress in a wide range of laboratory, farm and companion animal species. I am currently collaborating on a number of research applications on new methods of potentially assessing pain and distress. 

Research Roles

I am responsible for research project design and statistics, supervision of undergraduate, post-graduate and post-doctoral students. I also provide general guidance and training in research methodology and statistics training. I assist other members of the research group with their research as necessary as well as conducting my own research. I am also involved in preparing grant submissions, drafting research publications, editing and reviewing publications of other researchers in the group.

Postgraduate Supervision

I routinely supervise a number of postgraduate students from this and other universities. I am not currently supervising any PhD students.

Esteem Indicators

• Invited speaker at large number domestic and international academic, veterinary and pharmaceutical industry conferences and meetings.
• Module co-ordinator on the MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour & Welfare at the University of Edinburgh
• Invited Lecturer on the BSc in Animal Behaviour & Welfare at the University of Bristol
• Significant contribution to the FELASA Animal Welfare Award 2007
• External PhD examiner (University of Bristol 2007)

Keywords

Laboratory animal welfare, Pain, Distress, Behaviour, Statistical analysis, Experimental design, Welfare benchmarking, Wildlife welfare

Undergraduate Teaching

Lecturer in Experimental design Module PED 301 (final year, Pharmacology).
Invited Lecturer on the BSc in Animal Behaviour & Welfare at the University of Bristol

Postgraduate Teaching

Lecturer Experimental design CBC’s Home Office Module 5 course
Seminars & tutorials for the RCVS/Home Office course for new laboratory animal veterinarians
Seminars as part of CBC 2 day short course on animal pain assessment
Module co-ordinator on the MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour & Welfare at the University of Edinburgh

• Miller AL, Flecknell PA, Leach MC, Roughan JV. A comparison of a manual and an automated behavioural analysis method for assessing post-operative pain in mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 2011, 131(3-4), 138-144.
• Flecknell P, Leach M, Bateson M. Affective state and quality of life in mice. Pain 2011, 152(5), 963-964.
• Leach MC, Coulter CA, Richardson CA, Flecknell PA. Are We Looking in the Wrong Place? Implications for Behavioural-Based Pain Assessment in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculi) and Beyond?. PLoS One 2011, 6(3), e13347.
• Farnworth MJ, Walker JK, Schweizer KA, Chuang C-L, Guild S-J, Barrett CJ, Leach MC, Waran NK. Potential behavioural indicators of post-operative pain in male laboratory rabbits following abdominal surgery. Animal Welfare 2011, 20(2), 225-237.
• Coulter CA, Flecknell PA, Leach MC, Richardson CA. Reported analgesic administration to rabbits undergoing experimental surgical procedures. BMC Veterinary Research 2011, 7, 12.
• Leach MC, Bailey HE, Dickinson AL, Roughan JV, Flecknell PA. A preliminary investigation into the practicality of use and duration of action of slow-release preparations of morphine and hydromorphone in laboratory rats. Laboratory Animals 2010, 44(1), 59-65.
• ScottodiPerrotolo M, Miller AL, Leach MC, Flecknell PA. Mesure de la fiabilité et de la precision des expressions facials pour évaluer la douler chez la souris. STAL 2010, 36(4), 49-58.
• Leach MC, Allweiler S, Richardson C, Roughan JV, Narbe R, Flecknell PA. Behavioural effects of ovariohysterectomy and oral administration of meloxicam in laboratory housed rabbits. Research in Veterinary Science 2009, 87(2), 336-347.
• Dickinson AL, Leach MC, Flecknell PA. Influence of early neonatal experience on nociceptive responses and analgesic effects in rats. Laboratory Animals 2009, 43(1), 11-16.
• Leach MC, Main DCJ. An assessment of laboratory mouse welfare in UK animal units. Animal Welfare 2008, 17(2), 171-187.
• Leach MC, Thornton PD, Main DCJ. Identification of appropriate measures for the assessment of laboratory mouse welfare. Animal Welfare 2008, 17(2), 161-170.
• Richardson CA, Niel LE, Leach MC, Flecknell PA. Evaluation of the efficacy of a novel electronic pain assessment device, the Pain Gauge®, for measuring postoperative pain in rats. Laboratory Animals 2007, 41(1), 46-54.
• Dennison T, Leach MC. Animals, reseach, ethics and law. In: Pullen, S, ed. Ethics, Animal Law and the Veterinary Nurse. Oxford: Elsevier, 2006, pp. 103-116.
• Leach MC, Thornton PD, Main DCJ. Development of a welfare-benchmarking scheme for laboratory mice. In: 9th FELASA Symposium on Internationalisation and harmonisation of laboratory animal care and use issues.2006,Nantes, France:Laboratory Animals Ltd
• Hawkins P, Playle L, Golledge H, Leach M, Banzett R, Coenen A, Cooper J, Danneman P, Flecknell P, Kirkden R, Niel L, Raj M. Newcastle Consensus Meeting on Carbon Dioxide Euthanasia of Laboratory Animals. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK:NC3Rs,2006.
• Raj ABM, Leach MC, Morton DB. Carbon dioxide for euthanasia of laboratory animals. Comparative Medicine 2004,54 5 470-471.
• Leach MC, Morton DB. How humane is induction with common agents of anaesthesia an euthanasia in laboratory rodents?. ANZCCART Newsletter 2004,17 1-4.
• Leach MC, Bowell VA, Allan TF, Morton DB. Measurement of aversion to determine humane methods of anaesthesia and euthanasia. Animal Welfare 2004,13 s1 77-86.
• Leach MC, Bowell VA, Allan TF, Morton DB. Aversion to gaseous euthanasia agents in rats and mice. Comparative Medicine 2002, 52(6), 572.
• Leach MC, Bowell VA, Allan TF, Morton DB. Degrees of aversion shown by rats and mice to different concentrations of inhalational anaesthetics. Veterinary Record 2002, 150(26), 808-815.
• Morton DB, Ambrose N, Leach MC, Kelly J, Poirier G. Adverse effects - recognition and assessment, and humane endpoints. In: Balls M, van Zeller AM, Halder ME, ed. Progress in the reduction, refinement and replacement of animal experimentation: proceedings of the 3rd World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences, held in Bologna, Italy, from 29 August to 2 September 1999. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2000, pp.1083-1093.
• Leach MC, Ambrose N, Morton DB. The Development of a Novel Form of Mouse Cage Enrichment. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 2000, 3(2), 81-91.
• Leach MC, Waran N, Young RJ. Olfactory enrichment for asian elephants: Is it as good as it smells?. International Zoo News 1998, 45, 285-291.
• Leach MC. Animal Training – A controversial form of enrichment. Ratel 1997, 25, 49-58.
• Leach MC. Practical environmental enrichment for elephants. In: Field D, Young RJ, ed. Zoo Enrichment Guidelines. Association of British Wild Animal Keepers, 1997.
• Thomas AA, Leach MC, Flecknell PA. An alternative method of endotracheal intubation of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). Laboratory Animals 2012, 46(1), 71-76.
• Leach MC, Klaus K, Miller A, Scotto di Perrotolo M, Sotocinal SG, Flecknell PA. The Assessment of Post-Vasectomy Pain in Mice using Behaviour and the Mouse Grimace Scale. PloS One 2012, 7(4), e35656.