Laboratory Animals and Research Ethics

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and important concepts related to laboratory animals, research ethics, and the regulations governing animal welfare in scientific research.

Animal Welfare Act (AWA)

A law passed in 1966 setting standards for the humane care and treatment of certain live or dead warm-blooded animals.

Toxicity Testing

The process of determining the degree to which a substance can harm living organisms.

Carcinogenicity Tests

Tests to detect potential human carcinogens through repeated exposure in an animal's lifespan.

Draize Test

A test where a substance is applied to one eye of a rabbit, with the untreated eye serving as a control.

LD50 Test

Lethal Dose 50, the dose of a substance at which half of the test animals can be expected to die.

Exploratory Phase

Phase 0 trials that determine if a drug engages its expected target in the first-in-man trials.

IACUC

Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee, responsible for overseeing the animal care program in research institutions.

CRUELTY-FREE

A term used to claim that products have not been tested on animals, though the definition may vary.

Microphysiological Systems

Tools that mimic human organ systems to assess the behavior of biological materials.

Non-Human Primates

Species such as monkeys used in research, subject to different regulations under the AWA.

Phase III Trials

The phase where the drug's efficacy and safety are confirmed against a targeted condition in a larger subject population.

Environmental Enrichment

Practices aimed at enhancing animal well-being by providing sensory and motor stimulation.