1. Ethics of Animals for Research

2. Objectives Ethics of Animals for Research.
Animal Use in Biomedical Research.
The Three R’s Principles of using animals in research.

3. Ethics of Animals for Research
Animal are used to:
Understand how diseases affect living tissue
Develop and test treatments — including treatments for animals
Train future scientists and health-care professionals
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4. Animal Testing
It is estimated that between 50 and 100 million animals are used in research each year.

5. Can Computer Models and Cell Cultures Replace Animal Research?
Non-animal models are very important, but have limitations. They cannot duplicate the complicated interactions in a whole system.
Final testing depends on studies in living, whole animals or people.
This is actually required by federal law.

6. Measuring Pain and Suffering in Animal Testing
In December 2001 the breakdown of experimental licenses was:
39% mild
55% moderate
2% substantial
4% unclassified

7. Animal Use in Biomedical Research
Polio
Landsteiner and Popper proved it viral infectious; able to transmit disease to monkeys.
Salk and Sabin developed their vaccine through work with chickens and monkeys.
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Polio was one of the most dreaded childhood diseases of the 20th century. Polio epidemics have crippled thousands of people, mostly young children; the disease has caused paralysis and death for much of human history. Developed in the 1950s, polio vaccines are credited with reducing the global number of polio cases per year from many hundreds of thousands to around a thousand.

8. Animal Use in Biomedical Research
Infant Mortality
Studies in sheep led to use of steroids in treatment of respiratory distress syndrome, a major cause of death in premature infants.
Advances in understanding and treatment of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) came from studies in rats, mice, dogs, and sheep.

9. Animal Use in Biomedical Research
Cystic Fibrosis
A major killer of young adults.
Mouse models led to understanding the biochemical processes involved in this disorder.
Genetic therapies on the horizon are an extension of work in mice.

10. Animal Use in Biomedical Research
High Blood Pressure (HBP)
Goldblatt linked HBP to kidneys in rats, cats, and dogs. This research led to treatments for high blood pressure.
Cushing linked HBP to brains in dogs. This research led to understanding the nervous system’s influence on blood pressure and development of drugs to treat it.
Picture of research dogs being “cuddled” from:

11. Animal Use in Biomedical Research
Obesity
Major risk factor for diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and certain cancers
Epidemic in the United States: 64% of adults are overweight and 25% are obese
Mouse models and Zucker obese rats are shedding new light on causes of overeating, importance of leptin receptors, and ways that obesity leads to disease.
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12. Animal Use in Biomedical Research
Bioterrorism
Botulism antitoxin (prevention) was tested in mice and non-human primates
The smallpox vaccine was first studied using cowpox in cattle. In fact, the word “vaccine” is derived from the word “vaca” which means cow in Latin.

13. AIDS vaccines are being developed in monkeys.
Current anti-AIDS treatment developed in animals have greatly extended life expectancy and quality of life for AIDS victims.
AIDS vaccines are being developed in monkeys.
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14. Animal Use in Biomedical Research
Stroke
Stroke kills over 150,000 people in the U.S. each year and cause major disabilities that can include paralysis, inability to speak, loss of vision and loss of cognitive function.
A new treatment for stroke (and one that can reverse disability due to stroke), was first studied in rats.
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15. The Three R’s of using animals in research
The Three R’s are principles of good science that scientists must adhere to when conducting animal-based research.
First R- Replacement Using non-animal alternative wherever they exist in order that the only research done using animals is that which can be done no other way.
Read the whole article about synthetic skin from Popular Science Magazine:
This is synthetic skin.
It can be used in some
research situations.

16. Second R- Reduction
Using as few animals as possible to attain statistically significant results, as well as finding ways to cut down on the number of animals used for any specific piece of research.

17. Third R- Refinement
Improving animal welfare in laboratories by enhanced lab technician training, better enrichment inside the cages for animals, redesign of an experiment, etc.
This is a laboratory animal care technician. Read about him at: Watch a short video of a technician at: