Veterinary workshop presents alternative research practices

The University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine held a workshop Monday to help veterinarians and laboratory personnel diminish the number of animals used in research through better experimental design.

Titled “Animal Welfare Act — The Alternative Search”, the workshop familiarized veterinary practitioners and educators with research methods that take full advantage of the electronic tools of the college’s Pendergrass Library.

“This is the first workshop of its kind to be held here at the university,” said Ann Viera, a Pendergrass AG-Vet librarian who hosted the workshop. “The purpose of the workshop was to show investigators the best possible research practices for fulfilling the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act.”

The Animal Welfare Act is a federal law providing basic guidelines for the handling, treatment and transportation of some animals in certain situations, such as in laboratories, zoos, circuses, transporters and exhibits. It is enforced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and other organizations. It was first adopted in 1966 as a result of mounting public concern about animal research in the United States. In 2002, former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms (N.C.) introduced an amendment excluding consideration of birds and mice from the law.

For people who plan to use animals for investigative purposes, the workshop emphasized the “Three R” system — replacement, reduction and refinement in experimental designs. The purpose is to minimize the number of animals used in research. The office of Laboratory Animal Care within the veterinary college is responsible for teaching and researching practices on the UT campus that involve animals.

“The Three Rs are important in making sure that animals are not needlessly overused in research and education,” Jane Czarra, a workshop practitioner, said. “The Three Rs is a concept that has been a part of animal research for as long as I can remember.”

Reduction is currently the least emphasized of the “Three Rs” in animal experiments, the college’s officials said.

The workshop gave UT researchers the investigative tools needed to explore journals and the methodology to better design experiments and reduction in animal experimentation.

“I hope that those who took the workshop came away with what are the standard procedures and practices for fulfilling the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act,” Viera said.

The activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, known as PETA, infiltrated Auburn University’s Veterinary Research Lab last year. They claim to have conducted an investigation that uncovered improper animal care. The allegations are unsubstantiated, but have raised awareness around the country about the need for ongoing improvement in research and care protocols in animal laboratory settings.

The organization routinely has operatives go undercover in animal research facilities. In January of 2004, Neil Cavuto of FOX News accused PETA of having terrorist connections for making a $1,500 contribution to the Earth Liberation Front, which has participated in acts of domestic terrorism.

For more information on animal research at UT, visit http://www.vet.utk.edu/research/olac/.