John R. Hoffman is a Professor of Biology, public speaker and a scientist examining the recovery of the nervous system after injury. Since 2006 he has written several unpublished manuscripts and he is currently working on the first Nathaniel Smythe novel and short story collection. He spends his spare time with his family and running.

16 Animal Use Laws and Regulations

Objectives

By the end of this lecture, the student will be able to:

  1. Briefly describe the federal laws and guidelines for the responsible use of animals in research.
  2. Describe the procedure for gaining approval to conduct animal research at a college or university.

Part 1 Animal Use Laws and Regulations

This mini-lecture examines the current laws and regulations in the United States governing the humane care and use of laboratory animals. The handout for this presentation can be downloaded and printed.

Part 2 Animal Use Laws and Regulations (cont).

This short addendum to the previous lecture provides detailed information about the discussion topic and readings. The handout for this presentation can be downloaded and printed.


Reading:

Chapter 13. Legislation, regulation and policy relating to scientific procedures on animals. Nuffield Council on Bioethics, (2005). The Ethics of Research Involving Animals. pp. 217 – 238.

Tutorial PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare.

Assignment: Humane Care of Laboratory Animals
The United States government has established a series of laws, enforcement agencies, and review of animal research before, during, and after providing funds for the projects.  However, just as violent activists affect the public’s perception of peaceful animal welfare protestors, rare examples of unethical animal research damage the reputation of the majority of responsible animal scientists.

In your discussion group, discuss whether or not the policies, inspections, review, and enforcement procedures currently in place are sufficient to maintain humane care and use of animals in research.

Previous: 15 – History of Animal Research

Next: 17 – How the Body Works