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Animals in Research Public Policy Statement
Animals in Research
The Animals in Research Committee is the focus of SOT activities relating
to the effective and humane use of laboratory animals in research and
is concerned with the development of valid alternatives to animal testing.
Members of the Committee are appointed by the SOT president. The Committee
provides advice to the membership, identifies resources for use in public
outreach, staffs an exhibit at the SOT Annual Meeting, and organizes the
Colgate-Palmolive In Vitro Lecture for Students.
Animals in Research Brochure
Animals in Research: The Importance
of Animals in the Science of Toxicology (Brochure)
This brochure explains how toxicology research using
animals
protects human health and the environment.
Printable Brochure 
SOT Awards and Special Recognition related to Animal Research
Recent Issues related to Animals in Toxicology Research
- The EPA Future of Toxicity Testing Workgroup will develop a proposal that would identify the process under which the workgroup will establish a more detailed blueprint that responds to the National Academy of Sciences report directing less reliance on animal studies in toxicology. According to the Risk Policy Report, EPA, state, academic and industry researchers have said that the recommendations included in the NAS June report and a new related report on toxicogenomics will take years to implement.
- The report from the NAS entitled "Applications of Toxicogenomic Technologies to Predictive Toxicology and Risk Assessment" concludes that the technological hurdles that could have limited the reproducibility of data from toxicogenomic technologies have been resolved and recommends ways for the field to move forward. Toxicogenomic technologies provide tools to better understand the mechanisms through which environmental agents initiate and advance disease processes. They can also provide important information to help identify individuals that are more susceptible to disease risks posed by certain environmental agents than the general population. The report was commissioned by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
- The report "Toxicity Testing in the Twenty-First Century: A Vision and a Strategy" from the National Research Council outlines a new approach that would rely less heavily on animal studies and instead focus on in vitro methods that evaluate chemicals' effects on biological processes using cells, cell lines, or cellular components, preferably of human origin.
- OLAW guidance concerning targeting of institutions by animal activists: Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) at www.grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw provides provides guidance on the roles of the Institutional Official and the IACUC in developing plans to diminish the likelihood that their institution or its employees will become targets of animal activists.
- SOT Annual Meeting March 26, 1:30 PM–4:15 PM
Animal Rights Extremism and the Responsible Use of Animals in Research:
the Past, Present, and Future
Chairpersons: Jan Oberdoerster, Bristol Myers Squibb Company, East
Syracuse, NJ and Tracie Bunton, Stratoxon, LLC, Lancaster, PA
The necessary use of animals in biomedical and toxicological research
and to fulfill regulatory safety requirements must be acknowledged, with
recognition of and respect for the important contribution of animals in
the scientific progress. Animals must be humanely treated in accordance
with applicable animal welfare laws/regulations and full consideration
of the 3Rs—replacement, reduction, and refinement. The session will
call attention to the distinction between animal welfare and animal
rights extremism and will explore ways to think about the development of
replacement alternatives. How different stakeholders (e.g., the
scientific community vs. the animal rights community) look at the 3Rs
will be presented. Examples of the actions of animal rights extremists
and a new brand of internet-based extremism will be presented and
effective and appropriate responses addressed. Measures taken by the
scientific community and others in coordinating an effective response to
this extremism will be discussed and several 'next steps' required to
consolidate recent gains highlighted. The processes and practices
presented here will help us move forward as humane scientists without
sacrificing scientific quality due to illegal tactics and intimidation.
What to do When Your Research is Under Attack, Robert Phalen, University
of California Irvine, Irvine, CA
The Science of Alternatives, Alan Goldberg, Johns Hopkins University,
Baltimore, MD
Face-Off Against 21st Century Extremism, Michael Caulfield, Huntingdon
Life Sciences, East Millstone, NJ
The Pharmaceutical Industry and Animal Extremism: Action, Reaction or
Inaction?, Tim Morris, GlaxoSmithKline, Welwyn, UK
Protective Measures, Michael Moll, U.S. Department of Homeland Security,
Grand Rapids, MI
- Assurance of Animal Welfare in Research: Coexistence of Toxicology
Studies with Humane Endpoints
In the performance of toxicology studies, whether for purposes of product
safety testing or identifying mechanisms of toxicant action, it is necessary
to incorporate multiple regulatory, scientific, humane, and ethical factors
into the use and care of laboratory animals. This Workshop will provide
a forum for discussion of these various factors from different vantage points,
particularly with respect to utilization of humane endpoints. These issues
are of timely importance because of continually increasing regulatory oversight
of animal care and use, and thus this forum will be of broad interest to
toxicologists.
Sen. Inhofe and Rep. Petri Introduce
Legislation to Address Animal Extremism
Political Affairs—Example letter
to Congressman on use of animals in toxicology research is available through
the "Guide to Congress" section, as well as links to relevant
legislative issues
News and Information See notices about
breaking news and connect to articles in the SOT Communiqué
about animals in research
Two NIEHS Reports on Toxicity Test
Alternatives
Resources and related links
SOT Policy and Position Statements
Relevant policy statements from other professional societies
American
College of Laboratory Animal Medicine Public Statement: Medical
Records for Animals Used in Research, Teaching and Testing.
APS
Guiding Principles for the Care and Use of Animals—American
Physiological
Society.
FASEB
Statement of Principles for the Use of Animals in Research and Education
The
Use of Animals in Teaching the Biomedical Sciences—American
Physiological Society
The
Use of Animals in Biology Education—National Association
of Biology Teachers
Principles
and Guidelines
for Responsible use of Animals in the Classroom & Precollege
Education —National
Science Teachers Association
Principles and Guidelines
for the Use of Animals in Precollege Education—National
Science Teachers Association
Understanding
Animal Research in Medicine—RDS (Research Defense Society)
Proceed to on-line brochure
[Necessity of Animal Research]
[Reliability of Animal Data]
[Commitment to ResponsibleTreatment] [Advancing
Valid Alternatives] [Position Statement]
[Guiding Principles] [Further
Information] [Selected References]
[Public Policy Statement] [Download
Printable Brochure]
[Messaging Guide for Scientists Discussing Humane, Responsible Animal Research]
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