The ethics of research involving animals - Nuffield Council on ...
The ethics of research involving animals - Nuffield Council on ...
The ethics of research involving animals - Nuffield Council on ...
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T h e e t h i c s o f r e s e a r c h i n v o l v i n g a n i m a l s<br />
helping to facilitate exchange <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> informati<strong>on</strong>. We acknowledge that some organisati<strong>on</strong>s, particularly<br />
the Laboratory Animals Science Associati<strong>on</strong> (LASA) and the Royal Society for the Preventi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), have organised meetings for ERP members in the past to assist this<br />
process. We support this approach and recommend that these two organisati<strong>on</strong>s, together with<br />
other stakeholders where appropriate, identify a systematic and sustainable strategy to ensure that<br />
the ERP c<strong>on</strong>tributes most effectively to developing best practice in the Three Rs (paragraph 15.60).<br />
Examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> new technologies for replacement potential: Chair <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Three Rs<br />
We have described the complex interplay leading to the development <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Replacements in Chapter<br />
11. Strategic examinati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> new scientific technologies for Replacement potential, their<br />
adaptati<strong>on</strong> for general use and transfer <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the technology could help to ensure further progress.<br />
Scientists working in basic <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> who develop new methods for specific <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> questi<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten<br />
do not have the Refinement, Reducti<strong>on</strong> or Replacement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> animal experiments as their main<br />
objective and tend not to adapt or promote new methods for this purpose. Much more ‘horiz<strong>on</strong><br />
scanning’ is needed. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Working Party has therefore c<strong>on</strong>sidered whether it would be useful to<br />
institute at least <strong>on</strong>e Chair <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Three Rs, to undertake <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> new technologies for<br />
Refinement, Reducti<strong>on</strong> and Replacement potential and to encourage students to carry out <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
with an emphasis <strong>on</strong> alternative methods. Several issues would need to be assessed in more detail<br />
before such a proposal could be developed further. First, the relati<strong>on</strong>ship <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Chair to existing<br />
initiatives and organisati<strong>on</strong>s that seek to promote the Three Rs would need to be clarified, to avoid<br />
duplicati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> effort, and to ensure that funds to promote the Three Rs are spent most effectively.<br />
Sec<strong>on</strong>dly, the exact pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ile <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Chair would need to be carefully designed to assess whether it<br />
would be more appropriate to focus the review <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the wide range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> new technologies in different<br />
areas <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong>e <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Three Rs <strong>on</strong>ly, for example <strong>on</strong> Replacement. We have therefore not<br />
been able to agree <strong>on</strong> whether or not a Chair would advance and c<strong>on</strong>tribute to increased<br />
implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Three Rs. However, we c<strong>on</strong>sider that, in c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong> with the NC3Rs, it<br />
would be <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> value if the MRC, the Wellcome Trust and other major funders <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> review and<br />
explore further the proposal <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> establishing and funding such a Chair (paragraph 15.61).<br />
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS<br />
Thorough analysis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> scientific barriers to Replacements<br />
Difficulties in relati<strong>on</strong> to implementing Replacements are sometimes cited to dismiss further<br />
c<strong>on</strong>siderati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the c<strong>on</strong>cept as unfeasible, regardless <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the exact objectives <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a particular<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> project. Some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those opposed to <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>involving</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> also claim that a far wider<br />
range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> than is comm<strong>on</strong>ly assumed could be replaced by alternative n<strong>on</strong>-animal<br />
methods, if there was sufficient will to do so (paragraph 11.3). In order to make further progress<br />
in the development and the implementati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> Replacements, and in order to address the range<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> associated expectati<strong>on</strong>s it would be desirable to undertake a thorough analysis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the scientific<br />
barriers to Replacement and how they might be overcome. This task cannot be addressed in<br />
general terms, but requires an in-depth analysis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> specific projects in particular areas <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
Since the unavailability <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> n<strong>on</strong>-animal methods plays a central role in the cost-benefit assessment<br />
carried out under the A(SP)A, 11 we recommend that Ministers request the APC to undertake or<br />
commissi<strong>on</strong> such an analysis for a series <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> projects with a wide range <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> scientific objectives. A<br />
clear expositi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> obstacles, and strategies for overcoming them would, first, allow <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
efforts to be focused <strong>on</strong> problems that must be overcome if <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> are to be replaced for a<br />
particular purpose. Sec<strong>on</strong>dly, such an analysis would identify publicly the scientific problems<br />
which are thought to be insurmountable (paragraph 15.62).<br />
11 See Home Office Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, Secti<strong>on</strong> 5 (a), available at:<br />
http://www.home<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fice.gov.uk/docs/animallegislati<strong>on</strong>.html. Accessed <strong>on</strong>: 11 May 2005.<br />
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