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1. AMA White Paper on Animal Use—A Review
The American Medical Association (AMA) recently
released a white paper (position document) entitled
"Use of Animals in Biomedicai Research,** which clari-
fies the issue of animals in research for the American
public. The document* 25 pages in length, comprises
eight sections and a bibliography.
An "Executive Summary" (Chapter 1) provides an
overview on animal rights versos annual welfare con-
cerns, iinsfrafes some recent activities of annual rights
activists, and replies to each of Ihe major issues raised
by the animal rights movement FoBowing this summa-
ry is an "introduction* (Chapter 2), which identifies the
goals of the document These include a description of
the role of research animals in medical science, discus-
sion of die challenges that have been raised by animal
rights and animal welfare advocates, presentation of
choices that face the public, and the consequences of
decisions on those choices.
Tracing the history of animal use in scientific
research and an in-depth discussion of experiments that
require the use of animals is the topic of Chapter 3.
Chapter 4 details the challenge of the animal rights and
animal welfare movement to animal research. It presents
a historical overview of the animal rights movement,
tedudmg the philosophical basis of the movement, its
growth ana organization, and its strategic objectives and
activities.
Chapter 5 presents a "Response by the Research
Community to Arguments Raised by Animal Rights
Activists." Included in mis chapter is a discussion of the
validity and justification of using animals in bioraedical
and behavioral research. Examples of some medical and
veterinary medical advances made through the use of
animal research are given. Also in mis chapter are dis-
cussions concerning the conduct of animal research,
with emphasis placed on die clinical value of basic
research, the requirement for verification of experimen-
tal results (duplication), and the numbers and types of
animals used. Other items addressed include a justifica-
tion for using nonhuman primates as experimental sub-
jects, the issue of animal pain, and alternatives to animal
use.
Chapter 6 traces the "Legislative and Regulatory
Activities of Animal Cause Organizations" with details
regarding animal care and pound laws. Philosophic and
Moral Issues** is the title of Chapter 7. Animal rights
and animals as subjects of our moral concern are
addressed with a utilitarianjustification for their use.
The "Conclusion" (Chapter 8) outlines some of the
cost benefits of animal research in terms of potential
human and animal gains, international economic conse-
quences, and human (and animal) suffering. Although
scientists, the public, and legislators desire maximum
comfort and minimal pain to research animals, we are
reminded mat this must be balanced by human pain and
suffering if overly protective measures are adopted that
impede biomedicai research.
The report ends with the following statement: "The
Association believes that research involving animals is
absolutely essential to maintaining and improving the
health of the American people. The Association is
opposed to any legislation or regulation that would inap-
propriately limit such research, and actively supports all
legislative efforts to ensure the continued use of animals
in research while providing for their humane treatment**
Copies of the white paper may be obtained from Dr.
Jerod M. Loeb, Division of Biomedical Science, Ameri-
can Medical Association, 535 North Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60610 (312/645-5000)
—Reviewed by Fred W. Quimby
The following areas are of particular interest:
• research on systems that have the potential of becom-
ing high connectivity models (i.e., those where the body of
knowledge about the system is large and has resulted in
extensive cross information, or connection, with other sys-
tems,
• research on organisms that are considered high con-
nectivity models (e.g., E. coli, S. cerevisiae, C. elegans,
and D. melanogaster),
• development of model organisms with special fea-
tures that have become useful because the data are readily
transferable to humans, and
• formulation of mathematical models, in particular
when closely coupled to biological experimentation.
The application deadline is April 4, 1990. For further
information, contact Louise E. Ramm, Acting Director,
BMMRP, DRR, NIH Westwood Building, Room 8A07,5333
Westbard Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20892 (301/402-0630).
Volume 32, Number 1 Winter 1990 19
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2. NIH to Award Fellowships in Laboratory Animal
Science
The Animal Resources Program (ARP), Division of
Research Resources (DRR), at the National Institutes of
Health (NIH) is soliciting applications for individual
National Research Service Awards (NRSAs) for training in
research related to laboratory animal medicine. Applicants
must hold a D.V.M. or Ph.D degree at the time of the award
and must be interested in working in the field of laboratory
animal medicine. The proposed training must focus on
some topic that will benefit laboratory animals. Projects
usually focus on some aspect of laboratory animal disease:
etiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, or control. The fel-
lowship may be part of a research degree program. Appli-
cation receipt dates are May 10 and September 10,1990.
For more detailed information on NRSAs for Individual
Postdoctoral Fellows, contact Division of Research Grants,
Office of Grants Inquiries, 5333 Westbard Avenue, Room
449, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892 (301/496-7441). Specific
information related to Fellowships in Laboratory Medicine
can be obtained from Director, Laboratory Animal Sci-
ences Program, ARP, DRR, NIH, 5333 Westbard Avenue,
Room 853, Bethesda, MD 20892 (301/496-5175).
• Field study means any study conducted on free-living
animals in their natural habitat, which does not involve an
invasive procedure and does not harm or materially alter
the behavior of the animals under study.
• Institutional official means the individual at a research
facility who is authorized to legally commit—on behalf of
the research facility—that the requirements of the Animal
Welfare Act and amendments will be met.
• Major operative procedure means any surgical inter-
vention that penetrates and exposes a body cavity, or any
procedure that produces permanent impairment of physical
or physiological functions.
• Painful procedure as applied to any animal means any
procedure that would reasonably be expected to cause more
than slight or momentary pain or distress in a human being
to which it was applied—that is, pain in excess of that
caused by injections or other minor procedures.
• Positive physical contact means petting, stroking, or
other touching, which is beneficial to the well-being of the
animal.
• Study area means any building, room, area, enclosure,
or other containment outside of a core facility or centrally
designated or managed area in which animals are housed
for more than 12 hours.
Parts 1 and 2 of Animal Welfare Act Published
Parts 1 and 2 of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Animal Welfare Act regulations were published in
final form in the August 31, 1989 Federal Register
(54[168]:36113-36160, 1989). T.»e regulations took effect
on October 30. Revisions to the act were based in part on
5,582 comments received from researchers, administrators,
and the public.
In accordance with the 1985 amendments to the Animal
Welfare Act (P.L. 99-198, Food Security Act of 1985), the
final version of Parts 1 and 2 reflects greater harmony with
the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use
of Laboratory Animals. This is noteworthy because of the
departure from strict engineering standards to "perfor-
mance standards," over which both institutions and inspec-
tors have greater opportunity to exercise professional judg-
ment for the welfare of animals.
Other changes include the following:
DEFINITIONS
• Attending veterinarian means a person with training
or experience in the care and management of the species
being attended and who has direct or delegated authority
for animals.
• Committee means the institutional animal care and use
committee (IACUC).
REGULATIONS
• IACUCs are responsible for reviewing, approving,
requiring changes in, or refusing to approve the parts of
research proposals that deal with the care and use of ani-
mals. The IACUC also now reviews and approves many
changes proposed for ongoing projects, conducts semian-
nual inspection of all animal facilities, and monitors animal
care and use progress.
Principal investigators are required to provide IACUCs
with written proof that the experiments do not unnecessari-
ly duplicate previous experiments, and the committee must
verify that a good faith effort has been made.
All records of the IACUC shall be available for inspec-
tion and copying by authorized Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) personnel or representatives of
the funding federal agency at reasonable times. Release of
any such materials—including reports, summaries, and
photographs that contain trade secrets or commercial or
financial information that is privileged or confidential—will
be governed by applicable sections of the Freedom of
Information Act.
• Dogs and cats can now be obtained only from class A
dealers (breeders) or class B dealers who obtain them from
(1) individuals who have bred and raised the animals on
their premises or (2) government or private animal pounds
or shelters and other dealers.
No date has been set for publication of Part 3 (Standards),
but it is anticipated that additional public comment will be
solicited in the Federal Register before Part 3 is finalized.
20 ILAR NEWS
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3. Hairless Beagle Colony Available
Syntex Research is disbanding a small colony of hairless
beagles (Chinese crested hairless x beagle) and will donate
the animals to a researcher who is willing to pay shipping
costs. Six females and one male are available, all four
years of age. For more information, contact Victor Lukas,
Syntex Research, Mailstop R3-029, 3401 Hillview Avenue,
Palo Alto, CA 94304 (415/496-3645).
NASA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Have
Animal Welfare Policies
ILAR News readers are advised that the National Aeronau-
tics and Space Administration (NASA) is developing a spe-
cific written policy on the care and use of animal subjects
in NASA facilities and NASA-sponsored research. A
request for comments on a proposed rule appeared in the
Federal Register (54:35869-35873, 1989). The rule will
establish NASA policy, responsibilities, procedures, and
authority for the care and use of vertebrate animal subjects
in the conduct of NASA activities. The guidelines will be
in accordance with provisions of the Animal Welfare Act
and amendments in the Public Health Service Policy on
Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
A policy announced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser-
vice in 1988 (Federal Register 53[81]:15041-15042;
53[27]:3894-3895) set standards for the humane and
healthful transport of wild animals and birds to the United
States. The Fish and Wildlife Service is now developing a
law enforcement policy and reviewing the provisions to
make improvements and clarifications. Future proposed
rules and requests for comment will appear in the Federal
Register.
nical and public policy issues relating to the development
and application of alternatives to laboratory animals in
research and testing.
Currently, the program focuses on the use of alternatives
in toxicity testing, safety evaluation, and risk assessment.
An eight-member advisory board, which consists of regula-
tory officials, industrial and research scientists, and indi-
viduals representing public interests, has been formed to
direct program activities. The two main initiatives of the
program are a bimonthly newsletter, The Alternatives
Report, and the National Agenda Project.
The Alternatives Report—first published in June
1988—provides news and analysis on the latest develop-
ments in the search for alternatives, the relevant policy
issues, and the roles of government, industry, and the pub-
lic. Primarily a technical publication with references and
source addresses, the newsletter is intended for research
scientists, industrial toxicologists, regulatory officials, and
interested individuals.
The National Agenda Project involves a search for a
consensus national agenda to support and implement the
development and validation of alternatives for toxicity test-
ing. The Tufts Center for Animals and Public Policy will
conduct workshops for various interest groups involved
with the alternatives issue and produce written drafts of the
meeting discussions. These monographs will be widely dis-
tributed for comment and further discussion.
To subscribe to The Alternatives Report or for further
information on either initiative, contact Dr. Andrew
Rowan, Tufts Center for Animals and Public Policy, 200
Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536 (508/839-
5302).
Occupational Health Brochure for Lab Animal
Personnel
EPA Funds Program on Alternatives at Tufts
The Tufts University Center for Animals and Public Policy
has received funding from the U.S. Environmental Protec-
tion Agency (EPA) to establish a program to analyze tech-
The Institutional Animal Care Program at the University of
Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, has developed
an informational brochure on occupational health issues for
personnel with substantial laboratory animal contact. To
obtain a copy, contact Molly Greene, UTHSCSA Institu-
tional Animal Care Program, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San
Antonio, TX 78284-7822 (512/567-3717).
Volume 32, Number 1 Winter 1990 21
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