Medical research on animals

Leading source for pros & cons of controversial testing - testing - ound of the pro & con of animals used for testing, by ng age - lower it? Estimated 26 million animals are used every year in the united states for scientific and commercial testing. Animals are used to develop medical treatments, determine the toxicity of medications, check the safety of products destined for human use, and other biomedical, commercial, and health care uses. Research on living animals has been practiced since at least 500 ents of animal testing say that it has enabled the development of many life-saving treatments for both humans and animals, that there is no alternative method for researching a complete living organism, and that strict regulations prevent the mistreatment of animals in nts of animal testing say that it is cruel and inhumane to experiment on animals, that alternative methods available to researchers can replace animal testing, and that animals are so different from human beings that research on animals often yields irrelevant results. The california biomedical research association states that nearly every medical breakthrough in the last 100 years has resulted directly from research using animals. 101] the polio vaccine, tested on animals, reduced the global occurrence of the disease from 350,000 cases in 1988 to 27 cases in 2016. 112][113] [118] animal research has also contributed to major advances in understanding and treating conditions such as breast cancer, brain injury, childhood leukemia, cystic fibrosis, malaria, multiple sclerosis, tuberculosis, and many others, and was instrumental in the development of pacemakers, cardiac valve substitutes, and anesthetics. Anderson cancer center's animal research facility, states that "we wouldn't have a vaccine for hepatitis b without chimpanzees," and says that the use of chimps is "our best hope" for finding a vaccine for hepatitis c, a disease that kills thousands of americans annually. 14] [119] if thalidomide had been properly tested on pregnant animals, its potential for causing severe birth defects would have been discovered before the drug became legal for human use. 9] computer models can only be reliable if accurate information gleaned from animal research is used to build the models in the first place. 17] because animals and humans are so biologically similar, they are susceptible to many of the same conditions and illnesses, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. It would be unethical to perform invasive experimental procedures on human beings before the methods have been tested on animals, and some experiments involve genetic manipulation that would be unacceptable to impose on human subjects before animal testing. 19] the world medical association declaration of helsinki states that human trials should be preceded by tests on animals. If vaccines were not tested on animals, millions of animals would have died from rabies, distemper, feline leukemia, infectious hepatitis virus, tetanus, anthrax, and canine parvo virus. Treatments for animals developed using animal testing also include pacemakers for heart disease and remedies for glaucoma and hip dysplasia. In addition to local and state laws and guidelines, animal research has been regulated by the federal animal welfare act (awa) since 1966. As well as stipulating minimum housing standards for research animals (enclosure size, temperature, access to clean food and water, and others), the awa also requires regular inspections by veterinarians.

3] all proposals to use animals for research must be approved by an institutional animal care and use committee (iacuc) set up by each research facility. Humane treatment is enforced by each facility's iacuc, and most major research institutions' programs are voluntarily reviewed for humane practices by the association for assessment and accreditation of laboratory animal care international (aaalac). 24][25] all institutions receiving funding from the us public health service (phs) must comply with the phs policy on humane care and use of laboratory animals. Laboratory mice, for example, live for only two to three years, so researchers can study the effects of treatments or genetic manipulation over a whole lifespan, or across several generations, which would be infeasible using human subjects. 29][9] mice and rats are particularly well-suited to long-term cancer research, partly because of their short lifespans. Researchers treat animals humanely, both for the animals' sake and to ensure reliable test results. Research animals are cared for by veterinarians, husbandry specialists, and animal health technicians to ensure their well-being and more accurate findings. According to nature genetics "stressed or crowded animals produce unreliable research results, and many phenotypes are only accessible in contented animals in enriched environments, it is in the best interests of the researchers not to cut corners or to neglect welfare issues. 31] at cedars-sinai medical center's animal research facility, for example, dogs are given exercise breaks twice daily to socialize with their caretakers and other dogs, and a "toy rotation program" provides opportunities for play. Animals do not have the cognitive ability or moral judgment that humans do and because of this they have been treated differently than humans by nearly every culture throughout recorded history. If we granted animals rights, all humans would have to become vegetarians, and hunting would need to be outlawed. Vast majority of biologists and several of the largest biomedical and health organizations in the united states endorse animal testing. A poll of 3,748 scientists by the pew research center found that 89% favored the use of animals in scientific research. 120] the american cancer society, american physiological society, national association for biomedical research, american heart association, and the society of toxicology all advocate the use of animals in scientific research. 42] china requires that all cosmetics be tested on animals before they go on sale, so cosmetics companies must have their products tested on animals if they want distribution in china. Few animals are used in research, which is a small price to pay for advancing medical progress. People in the united states eat 9 billion chickens and 150 million cattle, pigs and sheep annually, yet we only use around 26 million animals for research, 95% of which are rodents, birds and fish.

1][2][115] we eat more than 1,800 times the number of pigs than the number used in research, and we consume more than 340 chickens for every research animal. According to humane society international, animals used in experiments are commonly subjected to force feeding, forced inhalation, food and water deprivation, prolonged periods of physical restraint, the infliction of burns and other wounds to study the healing process, the infliction of pain to study its effects and remedies, and "killing by carbon dioxide asphyxiation, neck-breaking, decapitation, or other means. 48][49] the commonly used ld50 (lethal dose 50) test involves finding out which dose of a chemical will kill 50% of the animals being used in the experiment. 65][102] the us department of agriculture (usda) reported in 2016 that 71,370 animals suffered pain during experiments while being given no anesthesia for relief, including 1,272 nonhuman primates, 5,771 rabbits, 24,566 guinea pigs, and 33,280 hamsters. Computer models, such as virtual reconstructions of human molecular structures, can predict the toxicity of substances without invasive experiments on animals. The anatomic, metabolic, and cellular differences between animals and people make animals poor models for human beings. The 1950s sleeping pill thalidomide, which caused 10,000 babies to be born with severe deformities, was tested on animals prior to its commercial release. The awa does not cover rats, mice, fish and birds, which comprise around 95% of the animals used in research. The awa covered 820,812 animals used for testing in fiscal year 2016, which leaves around 25 million other animals that are not covered. These animals are especially vulnerable to mistreatment and abuse without the protection of the awa. 57] according to neurologist aysha akhtar, md, mph, over 100 stroke drugs that were effective when tested on animals have failed in humans, and over 85 hiv vaccines failed in humans after working well in non-human primates. 59][58] a study in archives of toxicology stated that "the low predictivity of animal experiments in research areas allowing direct comparisons of mouse versus human data puts strong doubt on the usefulness of animal data as key technology to predict human safety. Tests are more expensive than alternative methods and are a waste of government research dollars. 87% of the studies failed to randomize the selection of animals (a technique used to reduce "selection bias") and 86% did not use "blinding" (another technique to reduce researcher bias). Also, "only 59% of the studies stated the hypothesis or objective of the study and the number and characteristics of the animals used. 128] since the majority of animals used in biomedical research are killed during or after the experiments, and since many suffer during the studies, the lives and wellbeing of animals are routinely sacrificed for poor research. Discriminating against animals because they do not have the cognitive ability, language, or moral judgment that humans do is no more justifiable than discriminating against human beings with severe mental impairments.

Animal welfare act has not succeeded in preventing horrific cases of animal abuse in research laboratories. Violations of the animal welfare act at the federally funded new iberia research center (nirc) in louisiana included maltreatment of primates who were suffering such severe psychological stress that they engaged in self-mutilation, infant primates awake and alert during painful experiments, and chimpanzees being intimidated and shot with a dart gun. 69] a us department of agriculture (usda) lawsuit against shin nippon biomedical laboratories (snbl) of everett, wa, alleged willful violation of the awa, including the death of 38 primates from dehydration, hypoglycemia, suffocation, hyperthermia, and seizures. Traditions tell us to be merciful to animals, so we should not cause them suffering by experimenting on them. There is no evidence that animal experiments were essential in making major medical advances, and if enough money and resources were devoted to animal-free alternatives, other solutions would be found. 107] [129] [130] humane research australia (hra) reports that many discoveries made by non-animal methods were later verified by animal experiments, "giving false credit" to animal use. Read testing has contributed to many life-saving cures and california biomedical research association states that nearly every medical breakthrough in the last 100 years has resulted directly from research using animals. Read is no adequate alternative to testing on a living, whole-body systems like human beings and animals are extremely complex. Read s are appropriate research subjects because they are similar to human beings in many nzees share 99% of their dna with humans, and mice are 98% genetically similar to humans. If vaccines were not tested on animals, millions of animals would have died from rabies... Read s themselves benefit from the results of animal vaccines were not tested on animals, millions of animals would have died from rabies, distemper, feline leukemia, infectious hepatitis virus, tetanus, anthrax, and canine parvo virus. Read research is highly regulated, with laws in place to protect animals from addition to local and state laws and guidelines, animal research has been regulated by the federal animal welfare act (awa) since 1966. Read s often make better research subjects than human beings because of their shorter life tory mice, for example, live for only two to three years, so researchers can study the effects of treatments or genetic manipulation over a whole lifespan, or across several generations, which would be infeasible using human subjects. Read researchers treat animals humanely, both for the animals' sake and to ensure reliable test ch animals are cared for by veterinarians, husbandry specialists, and animal health technicians to ensure their well-being and more accurate findings. Read vast majority of biologists and several of the largest biomedical and health organizations in the united states endorse animal testing. Poll of 3,748 scientists by the pew research center found that 89% favored the use of animals in scientific research. Read cosmetics and health care products must be tested on animals to ensure their an women use an average of 12 personal care products per day, so product safety is of great importance.

Read vely few animals are used in research, which is a small price to pay for advancing medical in the united states eat 9 billion chickens and 150 million cattle, pigs and sheep annually, yet we only use around 26 million animals for research, 95% of which are rodents, birds and fish. According to humane society international, animals used in experiments are commonly subjected to force feeding... Read testing is cruel and ing to humane society international, animals used in experiments are commonly subjected to force feeding, forced inhalation, food and water deprivation, prolonged periods of physical restraint, the infliction of burns and other wounds to study the healing process, the infliction of pain to study its effects and remedies, and "killing by carbon dioxide asphyxiation, neck-breaking, decapitation, or other means. Read s are very different from human beings and therefore make poor test anatomic, metabolic, and cellular differences between animals and people make animals poor models for human beings. Read that pass animal tests are not necessarily 1950s sleeping pill thalidomide, which caused 10,000 babies to be born with severe deformities, was tested on animals prior to its commercial release. Of animals used in experiments are not protected by the animal welfare awa does not cover rats, mice, fish and birds, which comprise around 95% of the animals used in research. Read tests are more expensive than alternative methods and are a waste of government research society international compared a variety of animal tests with their in vitro ccounterparts and found animal tests were more expensive in every scenario studied. Read s can suffer like humans do, so it is speciesism to experiment on them while we refrain from experimenting on suffering is undesirable, whether it be in humans or animals. Read animal welfare act has not succeeded in preventing horrific cases of animal abuse in research ions of the animal welfare act at the federally funded new iberia research center (nirc) in louisiana included maltreatment of primates who were suffering such severe psychological stress that they engaged in self-mutilation, infant primates awake and alert during painful experiments, and chimpanzees being intimidated and shot with a dart gun. Read ous traditions tell us to be merciful to animals, so we should not cause them suffering by experimenting on the bible, proverbs 12:10 states: "a righteous man regardeth the life of his beast... Read l breakthroughs involving animal research may still have been made without the use of is no evidence that animal experiments were essential in making major medical advances, and if enough money and resources were devoted to animal-free alternatives, other solutions would be found. Of animals used in experiments are not protected by the federal animal welfare act (awa), which excludes birds, rats and mice bred for research, and cold-blooded animals such as reptiles and most fish. Of scientists surveyed by the pew research center were in favor of animal testing for scientific research. Suite monica, ca leading source for pros & cons of controversial testing - testing - ound of the pro & con of animals used for testing, by ng age - lower it? Suite monica, ca financial 10 animal research research g voices, saving to research ical research awareness day (brad). Hayre ting biomedical ans for medical progress believes animal research plays a crucial part in the development of medical, veterinary and scientific breakthroughs. We support the responsible, ethical, and judicious involvement of laboratory animals when necessary in studies to enhance our understanding of biological processes and to speed the development of new treatments.

Biomedical research involving animals is beneficial to both humans and other understand that the topic of animal research can be highly-charged and we respect the views of all individuals. Nevertheless, we cannot deny the fact that animal-based research has been a part of virtually every medical discovery for the past 100 years, and that even in this time of rapid technological advances, animal studies remain a necessary component of scientific advancement today and for the foreseeable ans for medical progress endorses the “3rs”: refinement of tests so animal distress or pain is minimal, reduction of the number of animals used in a study, and the replacement, whenever possible, of animal experiments with non-animal experiments. We actively champion the development, validation, use and regulatory acceptance of alternatives to animal ans for medical progress believes laboratory animals are living creatures that deserve to be treated with respect, care and compassion. This belief is shared by scientists and veterinary professionals across america’s research institutions who are focused on the well-being and comfort of the animals in their charge. They work to ensure that each study involves skilled care of the animals by laboratory medicine professionals, provides appropriate housing, enrichment and social groupings for all subject animals, establishes humane endpoints, and where possible, promotes the adoption of post-study ans for medical progress also notes the necessity of availability of safe, reliable transportation for laboratory animals. Without this, the welfare of animals needed for research studies could be severely is important to understand the tapestry of laws, regulations, and established practices in place that safeguard the welfare of research animals. Prior to beginning a study, scientists must demonstrate that they have considered alternative methods to animal research, that their research cannot be successfully done without animal models, and that their studies are designed to produce needed results and studies must adhere to federal guidelines and be conducted in facilities that are in accordance with laws and standards for animal research and care including, where applicable, the animal welfare act and the guide for the care and use of laboratory animals, and receive regular inspections by the usda. Most american research institutions are also reviewed by aaalac international, a voluntary inspection and certification program that promotes standards which exceed government regulatory more position statements explaining the need for animals in of medical research with e, values, and gs special onal educational estimated 26 million animals are used for research, testing, and education in the united states each year. New initiatives in the united states and abroad are seeking to replace animals with alternative models for ethical and scientific reasons. The hastings center has organized this educational resource to help those involved and interested in biomedical research with animals better understand this changing the hastings special gs special report · table of the table of y and morality: contemporary moral status of invasive animal researchbernard e. Eugene redmond, utility of basic animal researchlarry ative approaches: seeds of no substitutes: the ethics of alternativesjoel ng the next generationsusan animals harmed: toward a paradigm shift in toxicity testingjoanne and policy g the bar: the implications of the iom report on the use of chimpanzees in researchjeffrey case of phasing out experiments on primateskathleen m. They are crucial for allowing scientists to learn more about human biology and health, and for developing new use of animals in scientific research has long been the subject of heated debate. On the one hand it is considered morally wrong to use animals in this way solely for human benefit. On the other hand, removing animals completely from the lab would impede our understanding of health and disease, and consequently affect the development of new and vital treatments. Although sometimes these studies do reduce the quality of life of these animals, thorough regulations are in place to ensure that they are carried out in a humane way. To help minimise the harm animals may experience while being studied in the laboratory, researchers are required to follow a set of principles, the ‘three rs’. These are: replace: replacing, where possible, experiments using animals with alternative techniques such as cell culture, computer modelling or human volunteers instead of animals.

Reduce: reducing the number of animals used, by improving experimental techniques and sharing information with other researchers so that the same experiments aren’t being done by many people. Refine: refining the way the animals are cared for to help minimise any stress or pain, by using less invasive techniques where possible and improving medical care and living conditions. Below you can find many of the arguments being made for and against the use of animals in the laboratory, some you are probably already aware of and some you may not have thought about… what do you think? Antibiotics, insulin, vaccines, organ transplantation and hiv treatment have all been developed with the help of experiments involving animals. Research using animals has contributed to 70 per cent of nobel prizes for physiology or medicine. Animals play a small but vital role in medical research that brings hope to many people with conditions such as cancer, heart failure and alzheimer’s disease. The reason that some medicines do not make it to market is that despite passing tests in animals they then fail in humans. Some people will say that that animals have not been as critical to medicine as is generally claimed. Yes the use of animals in research is essential for enabling researchers to develop new drugs and treatments. The use of animals in the lab has dramatically improved scientists’ understanding of human biology and health. Alternative methods of research do not simulate humans and whole body systems in the same way and are not as reliable. It is expensive to use model organisms as the animals must be purchased and then fed, housed and cared for. Until there is a cell that can be studied individually and can exhibit human-like responses, animals are necessary. Legally, all drugs have to be tested on animals for safety before they can be used in humans. There must always be a very clear scientific reason for research on animals to be considered. Through testing on animals we are able to ensure any risks of a drug are identified and minimised before it is tested on humans during clinical trials. No there is no need to cause pain and suffering to animals when sophisticated computer systems, mathematical models, human tissue and cell cultures and more focused clinical studies can also show us what happens to our bodies during disease.

Yes the uk has gone further than any other country to implement thorough ethical frameworks when it comes to animals in research. The animals act of 1986 ensures that any research using animals must be fully assessed in terms of any harm to the animals. This involves detailed examination of the procedures and the number and type of animals used. Researchers working with animals carry out their experiments with extreme care to eliminate or minimise suffering. To stop animal research would also be unethical as it would dramatically affect the development of new knowledge and flow of treatments to those with health conditions who desperately need them. The alternative to using animals in the lab would be to test new drugs in humans. It would be very difficult for researchers to find willing volunteers who would be able to provide informed consent to been involved in testing a new drug that hadn’t first been tested on animals. Far fewer animals are used in scientific research than are killed for humans to eat. No over 4 million animal procedures are currently carried out each year for uk biomedical research. If we accept that animals have rights then if an experiment violates the rights of an animal, it is morally wrong and any possible benefits to humanity are completely irrelevant. The harm done to human beings by not experimenting on animals is unknown, whereas the harm done to animals if they are tested on is certain. Should the use of animals in research be a mandatory part of modern progressive science? Animal studies are always used alongside other types of research such as cell cultures, computer modelling and human clinical trials. Using animals in research has long been a crucial part of science and has enabled our understanding of how we function to progress in leaps and bounds. Just because we undertake animal testing now doesn’t mean we shouldn’t challenge how scientific research is done in the page was last updated on are model organisms? It is a tropical fish from the minnow family with a genetic structure surprisingly similar to use the mouse in research? And mice share many common genetic features and by examining the physiology, anatomy and metabolism of a mouse, scientists can gain a valuable insight into how humans ding: from champion horses to life-saving have been breeding animals for millenia to bring out desirable characteristics.

With the thoroughbred race horse there's lots of money at stake but with research mice it's the possibility of life-saving new this page helpful?