Dear Colleagues and Friends,
At the 10th AFLAS Congress, held in Hangzhou, China, in October 2025, I was elected to succeed Prof. Qin Chuan, President of CALAS and former AFLAS President. It is a privilege to assume the leadership of AFLAS, an organization with a long and distinguished history. Over the course of my two-year term, through 2027, I will devote my full efforts to further strengthening AFLAS as a regional alliance and advancing the field of laboratory animal science across Asia.
JALASAFLAS is composed of national and regional laboratory animal science associations and societies throughout Asia. At the Council Meeting held during the 10th AFLAS Congress, the Hong Kong Laboratory Animal Science Society (HKLAS) was approved as a new member, expanding AFLAS to a federation of 12 associations and societies. During my presidency, all AFLAS decisions will be made through open and equal discussion among these 12 member organizations, ensuring a democratic and collaborative process. I look forward to active and constructive dialogue in both online and in-person council meetings
Modern laboratory animal science encompasses two essential pillars: the ethical and welfare-conscious conduct of animal experiments, including the practice of the 3Rs, and the advancement of research and technologies that utilize laboratory animals to drive scientific discovery. As AFLAS members, let us work together to advance both of these pillars in parallel and further enhance the global presence and impact of Asian laboratory animal science. The 11th AFLAS Congress will be held in Fukuoka, Japan, from May 24–28, 2027, in conjunction with the 74th JALAS Annual Meeting and the 61st Japanese Association for Experimental Animal Technologists (JAEAT) Annual Meeting. We warmly welcome and encourage all colleagues to participate actively.
I firmly believe that AFLAS will continue to grow through the cooperation of its member associations and societies, as well as through the friendship and trust among their individual members. I will do my utmost to help realize this vision.
Thank you.
Atsuo Ogura
AFLAS President