MODULE 2 DESIGNING: Research with Animals: Your Context

MODULE 2 DESIGNING: Research with animals: Your context

Key policies for the use of animal subjects in research

This document contains a summary of the rules, policies and standards mentioned on the ‘Research with animals: Your context’ screen.

Animal Welfare Act

The Act authorizes regulations enforced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to protect warm-blooded animals (except for rats, mice, birds, and farm animals) used in food and fiber research from inhumane treatment and neglect. It establishes standards for veterinary care and husbandry in research facilities and the formation of an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to oversee and assess compliance with animal welfare standards.

For further information, see:

 U.S. Animal Welfare Act

http://awic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=3&tax_level=3&tax_subject=182&topic_id=1118&level3_id=6735&level4_id=0&level5_id=0&placement_default=0

 U.S. Animal Welfare Act regulations

www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_11/9cfr2_11.html

 U.S. Animal Welfare Act standards

www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_11/9cfr3_11.html.

Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

The Policy requires “institutions to establish and maintain proper measures to ensure the appropriate care and use of all animals involved in research, research training, and biological testing activities ... conducted or supported by the PHS.” Most Federal agencies and non-profit biomedical research organizations (e.g. the National Science Foundation and the American Heart Association) require compliance.

For further information, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/PHSPolicyLabAnimals.pdf.

‘The Guide’

The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources of the National Research Council, 8th Edition, 2011) promotes the humane care of vertebrate animals used in research, education, or testing through standards and best practices for animal care and maintenance concerning their physical and psychological environments. It addresses important points related to farm animals, non-traditional species, and wildlife.

For further information, see the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals available online at .

U.S. government principles

The Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training (Office of Science and Technology Policy, 1985) specifies basic principles that must be considered whenever Federal agencies develop requirements for testing, research, or training using vertebrate animals: decisions about exceptions are to be made by an institutional committee.

For further information, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/phspol.htm#USGovPrinciples.