animal use in research

• animals in the UK:

  killed for food - 1.3 billion

  killed as pests - 20 million

  killed by cars - 11 million

  killed by cats - 11 million

  used in research - 4.14 million
• use of animal research in UK

  total animal experiments (2017) - 3.79 million
• the making of a medicine

  • research (mice)
  • finding new treatments
  • narrowing the field (test on species closer to humans - monkey)
  • clinical trials - three phases each with increasing sample size
  • approval - medicine licence
  • continuous monitoring
• future of animal research

  • Alzheimer's vaccine, gene therapy for muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease (MICE)
  • stem cells for spinal cord, heart repair (MICE, RATS)
  • COVID-19 vaccine, malaria vaccine (MICE, MONKEYS)
• UK history of legal protection of animals

  1989 animals (scientific procedures) Act (ASPA)

  • Governs what and how we can do things
• procedure

  anything that causes:

  • pain
  • distress
  • suffering
  • lasting harm
• Non - recovery procedure

  performed under general anaesthesia from which the animal will not regain consciousness
• mild procedure

  cause short-term, mild pain.

  • no significant impairment of wellbeing or condition
• moderate procedure

  will likely cause short-term, moderate pain or long lasting mild pain

  • Cause moderate impairment of their wellbeing and condition
• severe procedure

  cause severe pain or long lasting moderate pain

  Cause severe impairment of their wellbeing and condition
• ASPA 1986 underlying principles

  Animals bred, supplied and used for scientific procedures are cared for in accordance with the best standards of modern animal history

  REDUCTION -

  • reduce the number of animals involved to a minimum

  REFINEMENT -

  • Refine procedures to minimise any suffering caused

  REPLACEMENT -

  • Use different methods that replace the need for animals
• Purpose of procedures

  BASIC:

  • Add to our knowledge of the normal and abnormal structure, functioning and behaviour of living organisms and the environment

  TRANSLATIONAL/APPLIED:

  • Address human or animal health and disease

  REGULATORY:

  • To satisfy legal requirements, including: ensuring substances are produced to legal specification; evaluating the safety or effectiveness of pharmaceuticals and other chemicals
• Regulatory research - testing cosmetics

  banned in the UK and European Union
• how are animal procedures licenced

  ESTABLISHMENT LISENCE:

  Authorises the premises/establishment where the research is carried out

  PROJECT LISENCE:

  Authorises the need for the project and each experimental technique to be performed

  PERSONAL LISENCE:

  Authorises the person conducting the experiment
• The AWERB

  Animal welfare and ethical review board (AWERB)

  • -          Review project licences
• justification of animal numbers

  -          Use minimum number of animals requires

  -          Need a significant amount to get significant outcomes