Current Projects

Please note that The National Academies will announce meetings that are open to the public via the Current Projects System (CPS) no less than 10 days before the event.

 

Update of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
The committee will review the scientific literature published since the release of the 1996 Guide and determine whether the information currently in the Guide concurs with current scientific evidence. The committee will also review the literature related to new technologies related to laboratory animal care and use and determine where new guidance is necessary to ensure the best scientific outcomes and optimal animal welfare. In the process of this review, the committee will also take into consideration all materials and discussions provided to it, including those submitted to NIH in response to the Request for Information NOT-OD-O6-011 that specifically requested information related to the need to update the Guide. Where scientifically warranted, the guidance and recommendations of the 1996 Guide will be changed to reflect new scientific evidence, while maintaining the performance standards in the 1996 Guide. The committee will ensure that any recommendations in the Guide will be consistent with current Public Health Service Policy, the Animal Welfare Regulations, and the most recent Report of American Veterinary Medical Association Panel on Euthanasia.

Recognition and Alleviation of Pain in Laboratory Animals
This report will update information based on the current scientific literature on recognizing and alleviating pain in laboratory animals. The report will discuss the physiology of pain in commonly used laboratory species. Specific emphasis will be placed on the identification of humane endpoints, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic principles to control pain, and principles to utilize in minimizing pain associated with experimental procedures. As with the first report, general guidelines and examples will be given to aid Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) members, investigators and animal care staff in making decisions about protocols using laboratory animals under current federal regulations and policies.



Completed Projects

Recognition and Alleviation of Distress in Laboratory Animals
This is the first of a two report series that updates ILAR's 1992 report Recognition and Alleviation of Stress and Distress in Laboratory Animals. This report reviews the current scientific literature, placing emphasis on:

Specific emphasis is placed on the identification of humane endpoints in situations of distress and principles for minimizing distress in laboratory animals. General guidelines and examples are given to aid IACUC members, investigators and animal care staff in making decisions about protocols using laboratory animals under current federal regulations and policies. Recommendations are based on the most current scientific data where such data is available. The committee also identified gaps in the scientific literature where additional research data are needed.
Status: View Report Online

Toxicity Testing and Assessment of Environmental Agents
In collaboration with the Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology, the committee assessed and advanced current approaches to toxicity testing and assessment to meet regulatory data needs. Toxicity Testing in the 21st Century: A Vision and a Strategy, the second report in a two-part series, presents a long-range vision and strategic plan for advancing the practices of toxicity testing and human health assessment for environmental contaminants.
Status: View Report Online

Animal Models for Testing Interventions Against Aerosolized Bioterrorism Agents
This report addresses opportunities to improve strategies for testing interventions against aerosolized infectious agents in animal models. The committee organized a 1-2 day workshop during which individuals involved in testing potential interventions described and discussed their current approaches to testing with industrial, academic, and government scientists in complementary areas of study (e.g. aerosol toxicology). Workshop participants were asked to identify potential improvements to current test strategies by applying knowledge from other related scientific fields. In addition, they were asked to consider the types of animal models used and their appropriateness for the given testing needs. Based upon their own expertise and the discussions at the workshop, the committee prepared a consensus report describing challenges in testing aerosolized agents in animal models and identifying and analyzing those areas where further exploration may improve testing, either through the reconsideration of current approaches and/or through application of knowledge from other areas.
Status: View Report Online

Committee on Guidelines for the Humane Transportation of Laboratory Animals
The committee addressed problems associated with transportation of laboratory animals. Among the issues considered were: animal welfare, availability of services, regulatory oversight and permitting problems, import/export requirements, transport of biological specimens and potential biosecurity concerns. The resulting report provides recommendations to improve transportation practices that will benefit the research community as well as the animals.
Status: View Report Online

Review of Smithsonian Institution's National Zoological Park
A committee of experts was appointed to assess the quality and effectiveness of animal management, husbandry, and care at the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. and the Conservation and Research Center in Front Royal, Virginia. The study sought to identify strengths, weaknesses, needs, and gaps in the current infrastructure and provide recommendations on changes needed to ensure effective management and care of the National Zoo's animal collection. The study provides a description of the system currently in place, the elements and characteristics of that system, and the changing nature of concerns surrounding the system. The committee examined the historic and recent problems with animal health and animal science practices at the zoo, including recent reports on zoo operations and a scientific examination of the causes of recent animal deaths. The committee reviewed the National Zoo within the context of the larger zoo community, identifying unique aspects of the environment in which the National Zoo operates. The committee evaluated the communication and coordination of the various divisions of the zoo that impact animal care, analyzed the use of resources, and outlined attributes of an enhanced system to ensure the health and well-being of the animals at the National Zoo. In addition, the committee evaluated recent and ongoing changes in zoo operations. An interim report identifying the most pressing issues in animal care and management and aspects of the system in need of immediate attention, was completed at the end of the initial six months of the study. The final report provides a comprehensive assessment of the zoo, outlines attributes of an enhanced system to ensure the health and well-being of the animals, and includes the committee's final recommendations.
Status: View Report Online

Occupational Health and Safety in the Care of Non-Human Primates
The purpose of this study is to identify the hazards associated with using nonhuman primates (NHPs) in research, education, and testing; assess the degree of risk of these hazards; and suggest options for managing the risks including engineering controls, administrative procedures, personal protective equipment, and worker training. Recommendations will be made for institutional management of workers after suspected exposure. Sample illustrative occupational health and safety plans will be developed for personnel working in large and small holdings of NHPs.
Status: View Report Online

Guidelines for Use of Mammals in Neuroscience and Behavioral Research
This study seeks to identify common research themes in contemporary neuroscience and behavioral research based on input from neuroscience and behavioral researchers most familiar with current standards of practice and veterinarian specialists in laboratory animal medicine.
Status: View Report Online

Increasing Veterinary Involvement in Biomedical Research
Committee members examined the question--How can more veterinarians be recruited and prepared for careers in laboratory animal medicine, comparative medicine, and comparative pathology? Strategies for recruiting more veterinarians into programs in these specialties were developed.
Status: View Report Online

Science, Medicine, and Animals
This project is a revision of the report, Science, Medicine, and Animals (1991). The proposed revision will address animal use in scientific and medical research. Specifically, the report will: (1) provide an objective assessment of the scientific issues associated with the use of animals in research; (2) examine historic impacts in human and animal science and medicine attributable to the use of animals in research; (3) explore alternatives to the use of animals in research; (4) define current legal and regulatory aspects of animal use in research; and (5) present examples of appropriate, responsible, and contemporary approaches to the use of animals in research.
Status: View Report Online

International Workshop on Development of Science-Based Guidelines for Laboratory Animal Care
Held November 17-19, 2003 at the Georgetown University Conference Center, Washington, DC 20057
The purpose of this workshop was to bring together experts from around the world to assess the available scientific knowledge that can affect the current and pending guidelines for laboratory animal care. The workshop consisted of presentations and discussions focused on identifying gaps in the current knowledge in order to encourage future research endeavors, assessing potential financial and outcome costs of unscientifically-based regulations on facilities and research, and determining possible negative impacts of arbitrary regulations on animal welfare.

The importance of how performance standards provide flexibility to the changing needs of science and animal welfare was emphasized. The case for and against harmonization of standards and guidelines was presented by speakers with a variety of perspectives. Workshop faculty presented these issues from a scientific perspective. A forum for discussion and input was provided.
Status: View Report Online

View Other ILAR Reports.





Copyright © 2007. National Academy of Sciences.
All rights reserved.
500 Fifth St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001.
Terms of Use and Privacy Statement