Text 4.4 Animal Research

Three pictures, first with researcher looking at large mice, second a rabbit is getting a shot, third children are holding a snake and a gerbil.

Objectives

Explore why animal research occurs
Apply ethical practices when interacting with animal subjects
Explore the purpose of the IACUC

Introduction

The decision to use animals in research requires critical thought, judgement, and analysis.

~ Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, 8th Edition

Animals used in research provide data and revelations that significantly impact the scientific community and the population at large. But using animals in research is a privilege granted by society with the expectation that such use "will provide either significant new knowledge or lead to improvement in human and/or animal well-being (McCarthy 1999; Perry 2007)."

Taking Care of Animal Research Participants

In 1959, Russel and Burch introduced the Three Rs for animal research in The Principles of Human Experimental Technique. The Three Rs were created not only to protect the integrity and ethical considerations of research, but also to decrease the use of invasive procedures done to animals. Over the past 40 years, the Three Rs have become widely accepted and are now embedded in the conduct of animal-based research throughout the world.

The Three Rs

REPLACE

Replace (or avoid) animal models in research.

REDUCE

Minimize how many animals are used per experiment to obtain sufficient data (likewise, maximize the data obtained per animal used).

REFINE

Mitigate animal harm and improve animal welfare.

Bill of Rights for Animal Research Participants

Animal Research Bill of Rights Inforgraphic.png

Quick Check

What are the three Rs?

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

This is not about the environment. At least, not in that way.

Responses, Retweet, Reduction

Seriously? Retweet? Try again.

Replace, Reduce, Refine

Way to go!

Refine, Recycle, Reduce

Not exactly. Try again.

Check Answer

References

Care and Use of Animals for Research and Instruction. Txstate.edu. (2022). Retrieved 25 January 2022, from https://www.txstate.edu/research/orc/animals-in-research.html.

Curzer, H. J., Perry G., Wallace, M. C., & Perry, D. (2015, March 31). The Three Rs of Animal Research: What they Mean for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and Why. Science and Engineering Ethics. Retrieved February 1, 2022, from https://saras.cbse.gov.in/SARAS.

Faunalytics - Research For Effective Animal Advocacy. Faunalytics. (2022). Retrieved 25 January 2022, from https://faunalytics.org/.

The IACUC | OLAW. Olaw.nih.gov. (2022). Retrieved 25 January 2022, from https://olaw.nih.gov/resources/tutorial/iacuc.htm.

Curzer, H. J., Perry, G., Wallace, M. C., & Perry, D. (2015, March 31). The Three Rs of Animal Research: What they Mean for the Instiutional Animal Care and use Committee and Why. Science and Engineering Ethics. Retrieved February 1, 2022, from https://saras.cbse.gov.in/SARAS