The ethics of research involving animals - Nuffield Council on ...

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
3 October 2003, Biology Department, University <strong>of</strong> York
Members <strong>of</strong> the Working Party who attended the meeting included Nick Ross, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor John
Spencer, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Jonathan Wolff, Dr Sandy Thomas and Harald Schmidt.
Staff at the Biology Department <strong>of</strong> the University <strong>of</strong> York:
Programme
Dr Patricia Coulson
Dr Betsy Pownall
Dr Harv Isaacs
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Henry Leese
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Alan Wilson
Mike Snelling
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Alistair Fitter
Dr Piran White
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Ge<strong>of</strong>f Hall
APPENDIX 4: METHOD OF WORKING
■ Introduction to basic and applied <strong>research</strong> <strong>involving</strong> amphibians and rodents;
■ tour <strong>of</strong> the animal facilities and discussion <strong>of</strong> scientific, regulatory and ethical issues with staff
and students relating to developmental studies on fertilised eggs <strong>of</strong> frogs; studies for improved
fertility treatment using mice, and cattle and pig embryos; the development <strong>of</strong> a
schistosomiasis vaccine <strong>involving</strong> snails, worms and mice.
3 October 2003, the contract <strong>research</strong> organisation Covance (a contract <strong>research</strong> organisation),
Harrogate
Members <strong>of</strong> the Working Party who attended the meeting included Nick Ross, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor John
Spencer, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Jonathan Wolff, Dr Sandy Thomas and Harald Schmidt
Staff at Covance:
Dr Chris Springall
Vice President, Toxicology
Colleagues with expertise in toxicology <strong>research</strong> and ethical review
Programme:
■ Introduction to scientific and regulatory aspects relating to the toxicity testing <strong>of</strong> new
medicines and agrochemicals;
■ tour <strong>of</strong> the animal facilities and discussion <strong>of</strong> scientific and animal welfare related issues with
staff concerning <strong>research</strong> on pregnant rabbits to assess the toxicity <strong>of</strong> a pesticide on fetuses; the
testing <strong>of</strong> anti-diabetes compounds in mice; <strong>research</strong> <strong>involving</strong> captive-bred macaque monkeys;
and systemic toxicity studies in beagles;
■ discussion <strong>of</strong> methodological and regulatory issues relating to toxicity testing including the
function and adequacy <strong>of</strong> the severity banding <strong>of</strong> the Home Office and the scientific scope and
limitations <strong>of</strong> alternatives to tests such as the Draize test.
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