The Neurological Foundation subjects each research funding application to rigorous peer review by assessment committees comprised of national experts. In addition, large project applications are evaluated by international experts in the field. Our assessment committees discuss whether the proposed methods are appropriate or whether the same results can be achieved with different methods, however we do not have an internal ethics committee. Grant recipients must obtain the required ethics approval through their host institution. All New Zealand ethics committees operate under a Code of Ethical Conduct approved by MPI, which includes representatives from organisations such as the SPCA and the NZ Veterinary Association. The ethics committees are guided by the principles of reducing, refining, and (wherever possible) replacing the use of animals in research.