Kaplan University LS 516 Unit Six Town Hall Welcome! Are there any questions? Tonight our subject concerns two basic questions: 1.When sponsoring faculty research, how should colleges and universities regulate it and provide for ethical considerations? 2. Whose interests should be considered?

When sponsoring faculty research, how should colleges and universities regulate it and provide for ethical considerations? Whose interests should be considered? Many Schools Are “Research Universities” --- where faculty research and publish their finding as much, or more, than they actually teach. Do colleges and universities need guidelines as to procedures for doing research? Why?

Some research involves living things: See: Chakrabarty, a U.S. Supreme Court case What was the Chakrabarty case about? Why is it important? A note about the litigants, for the government, Diamond, Lawrence Wallace, who litigated 157 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, all on behalf of the government v. Edward McKie, who has only litigated this case before the U.S. Supreme Court

Consider: Use of animals in research and teaching is highly regulated Animal Welfare Act (AWA) –USDA Animal Care Policies Public Health Service Policy (Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, OLAW) AAALAC: Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care, International

The Animal Welfare Act Passed in 1965 by the US Congress; multiple amendments Enforced by the USDA; failure to follow the law can result in fines or jail Unannounced inspections at least once per year Does not cover rats, mice, or birds bred for research

Animal Welfare Act--significant requirements The Institution must have an IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) The Institution must provide for the psychological well being of non-human primates The Institution must provide exercise for dogs

Public Health Service Institutions using PHS funds must follow “The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” (Guide) Covers all vertebrate species Failure to follow the Guide can result in loss of funding to the institution

Some Standards Must have at least a laboratory animal veterinarian, a scientist, and a community member not affiliated with the institution and who does not use animals in research Reviews all facilities and programs twice a year; identifies and ensures correction of any deficiencies Reviews “Protocols”, the researcher’s or teacher’s proposal for animal use Monitors animal use; can suspend any animal activity that does not meet standards

The ethics of animal use Utilitarianism: the view that an action is right if and only if it produces a better balance of benefits and harms than available alternative actions Consider the “U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training”

U.S Government Principles (summary) Procedures involving animals should be designed and performed with due consideration of their relevance to human or animal health, the advancement of knowledge, or the good of society. The animals selected for a procedure should be of an appropriate species and quality and the minimum number required to obtain valid results. [Alternative] methods…should be considered. Proper use of animals, including the avoidance or minimization of discomfort, distress, and pain when consistent with sound scientific practices, is imperative. Procedures with animals that may cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress should be performed with appropriate sedation, analgesia, or anesthesia. Animals that would otherwise suffer severe or chronic pain or distress that cannot be relieved should be painless killed at the end of the procedure or, if appropriate, during the procedure.

IACUC Protocol Review (partial) Does the research address an important question? Does the research require the use of animals? Is the research necessary, in that it does not needlessly repeat previous work? Is the experience of each animal in the study adequately described and justified?

What are animals used for? Rowan 1968 (accurate numbers are hard to find) –Teaching………………………………8% –Research……………………………..40% –Toxicology…………………………..20% –Drug development……………………6%

UW-Madison: animals used Dogs Cats G. Pigs Hamsters Rabbits Primates

UW-Madison (Oct Sept 2005) #bred/heldNo painTreated pain Dogs Cats G. Pigs 020 Hamsters Rabbits Primates

Opponents of animal in research It is unethical to use animals regardless of the benefits (animal rights perspective) Most human health advances have come from improved sanitation Research animals live impoverished lives, filled with fear and pain Stressed animals are poor models Most of the research can be done using alternative methods

Back to the Chakrabarty case. What might have happened had this case been decided the other way? Who are the stakeholders as to research? Questions/comments/thanks, JG