Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
technological, and ethical use of animals and related
biological resources in research, testing, and education.
Through the reports of expert committees, the ILAR
Journal, web-based resources, and other means of
communication, ILAR provides independent, objective
advice to the federal government, the international
biomedical research community, and the public. ILAR staff
are supported by a Council, which provides advice on all
aspects of ILAR's activities and is composed of veteri-
narians and research scientists.
The best known report of the ILAR is the Guide for the
Care and Use of Animals, the standard reference for labo-
ratory animal care on which the PHS Policy and the stan-
dards of AAALAC International are based. The Guide has
been translated into several languages to facilitate its use as
a reference internationally. Other recent reports that may be
useful resources for animal research programs that include
the use of nonhuman primates are: Recognition and Alle-
viation of Pain in Laboratory Animals (2009); Recognition
and Alleviation of Distress in Laboratory Animals (2007);
Guidelines for the Humane Transportation of Research
Animals (2006); Guidelines for the Care and Use of
Mammals in Neuroscience and Behavioral Research
(2003); Occupational Health and Safety in the Care and
Use of Nonhuman Primates (2003); and Psychological
Well-Being of Nonhuman Primates (1998).
CIOMS Guiding Principles, they are meant to be suffi-
ciently broad to cover the entire veterinary medical
profession, but have direct applicability to the care and use
of animals used in research, testing and teaching.
The AVMA has developed several Animal Welfare
Policy Statements (
http://www.avma.org/issues/animal_
welfare/policies.asp
), some of which are specific to
research animals, such as safety testing, physical restraint,
and pain in animals.
Society of Toxicology (SOT)
The objective of the SOT is the acquisition and dissemi-
nation of knowledge that improves the health and safety of
humans and animals, and the protection of their environ-
ment. To accomplish this objective within an ethical
framework, and in the context that there is significant use of
nonhuman primates in regulatory toxicology, the SOT
endorses the principles of the 3Rs by its commitment to
reducing the number of animals used for research and
testing when appropriate; the use of research designs that
minimize pain or stress and improve animal care; and the
development of alternatives to the use of animals. The SOT
recently updated its Guiding Principles in the Use of
Animals in Toxicology (2008) that were initially adopted in
1989 (
http://209.183.221.234/ai/air/air6.asp
).
American Veterinary Medical Association
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
(
http://www.avma.org/
), established in 1863, is a not-
for-profit association representing more than 81 500
veterinarians working in private and corporate practice,
government, industry, academia, and uniformed services.
The AVMA acts as a collective voice for its membership
and for the profession and publishes guidance documents
and welfare policies among other activities.
The AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia (
http://www.
avma.org/issues/animal_welfare/euthanasia.pdf
), currently
under revision, serve as the standard reference for eutha-
nasia of experimental animals in the USA and other parts of
the world as a reference used by AAALAC International in
its accreditation program. The guidelines are intended
to reflect contemporary scientific knowledge regarding
a variety of euthanasia techniques across numerous species.
The advantages, disadvantages and specific recommenda-
tions for each method are described and ethical, animal
behavior and human behavioral considerations addressed.
Appendix 1 describes “acceptable” and “conditionally
acceptable” methods of euthanasia for nonhuman primates.
The AVMA established eight Animal Welfare Principles
in 2006 (
http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/animal_
welfare/principles.asp
) for developing and evaluating
animal welfare policies, resolutions, and actions. Like the
American Society of Primatologists
The American Society of Primatologists (ASP) (
http://
www.asp.org/
) is a nonprofit professional educational and
scientific organization whose purpose is to promote and
encourage the discovery and exchange of information
regarding nonhuman primates, including all aspects of their
anatomy, behavior, development, ecology, evolution,
genetics, nutrition, physiology, reproduction, systematics,
conservation, husbandry, and their use in biomedical
research. The ASP sponsors annual scientific sessions and
recognizes the work of scientists in primate conservation
through the award of research grants. ASP publishes the
American Journal of Primatology, which contains both
empirical research and review articles as well as publishing
the quarterly ASP Bulletin which contains information
items and research reports. In 2009, the ASP issued
a Response Against Terrorist Activities directed at primate
researchers (
http://www.asp.org/society/resolutions/ALF_
response.html
).
Primate Society of Great Britain
The Primate Society of Great Britain (
http://www.psgb.org/
)
promotes research in primate biology, conservation of
primate populations and their habitats, and the welfare
of primates. The organization offers grants
for
the
