Contemporary Issues in Lab Animal Medicine

Lecture 30

What federal law was created in 1966 that regulates the treatment of animals in research, teaching, exhibition, and trasnport?

Animal Welfare Act

Who enforces the Animal Welfare Act?

USDA

Which animals are not covered under the Animal Welfare Act?

cold blooded animals

birds

rats

mice

food/farm animals

What was defined by Russell and Burch in 1959 and guides the practice and regulation of animal research?

The 3 R’s

What are the 3 R’s?

Reduction

Replacement

Refinement

What is reduction as part of the 3 R’s?

using the smallest amount of animals possible to conduct research

What is replacement as part of the 3 R’s?

using nonanimal methods or “lower” consciousness animals

What is refinement as part of the 3 R’s?

minimizing any pain or distress that animals may experience

What is IACUC?

Insitutional Animal Care and Use Committee

Who does IACUC report to?

OLAW

Who is responsible for overseeing an insitution’s animal research program, approves and monitors all research protocols, and conducts semi annual inspection of all facilities?

IACUC

Who must be included on IACUC?

at least 5 members including a veterinarian, a scientist, a nonscientist, and a community member

List current issues in lab animal medicine.

animal right’s groups

increased public scrutiny

multiple recent bills introduced to block the use of dogs and nonhuman primates in reseach

alternative methods of research becoming more popular

Describe recent shifts in animal use for research.

shifted from using chimpanzees to mice and rats

more scrutiny and rules