Animal Research

1
Animal Research

• Who
• What
• Where
• When
• Why

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WHAT is Animal Research?

• Research in the biological or medical sciences
  that uses animals as test subjects.
• The animal studied could be the actual subject of
  the research
• e.g., zoological research in a native habitat
• The animal studied could be serving as a model
  for its own species
• e.g., testing heartworm medications in dogs

3
WHAT is Animal Research?

• The animal studied could be serving as a model
  for humans
• e.g., testing medications for safety, and to see
  if they work (efficacy)
• The animal studied could be serving as a model
  for animals in general (including humans)
• e.g., how blood clots, how the brain works

4
WHO does Animal Research?

• At UM, all projects must be directed by a faculty
  member, who has either an advanced graduate level
  degree (Ph.D.) or a professional degree (M.D.,
  D.V.M.)
• Usually, research assistants, post-doctoral
  fellows, graduate students, professional
  students, and/or undergraduate students are
  actually performing the experiments.

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WHY do Animal Research?

• Because animals are often the best (or only)
  means available to study a biological process in
  the context of a whole organism. Other systems
  cannot simulate the complex interrelationships
  between organ systems and/or cannot predict those
  relationships that are, as yet, unknown.

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WHY do Animal Research?

• Many people support alternatives to animals for
  biomedical research
• Cell cultures can mimic some aspects of biology,
  but they arent as complex.
• Computers can mimic some aspects of biology, but
  they cant analyze beyond that for which they are
  programmed.

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Where is Animal Research done?

• Universities, colleges, private and government
  institutes, pharmaceutical companies, and
  government and military installations.
• At UM there are 31 animal facilities in 23
  different buildings on campus.

8
University of Michigan
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WHEN is Animal Research done?

• 24 Hours per day!
• The animals stay all night
• Several projects actually involve after-hours
  work
• Very important fact to remember if your facility
  houses animals
• Nighttime work (when employees are gone) does not
  help with animal facilities

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WHAT is ULAM?

• A campus division that
• Provides veterinary care to all university-owned
  animals
• Ensures that all federal and state regulations
  are followed
• Operates a service that provides daily care to
  animals upon request
• Can provide technical assistance to researchers
  for their animal studies

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WHAT is ULAM?

• ULAM is also a department within the medical
  school
• It is considered a basic science department, even
  though the faculty perform clinical services for
  the animal patients
• It has research and teaching functions
• It has faculty members, most of whom are
  veterinarians

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WHO am I?

• Robert C. Dysko, D.V.M.
• Associate Director of ULAM
• Clinical Associate Professor of Laboratory Animal
  Medicine
• A veterinary specialist, board certified by the
  American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine
• ULAMs faculty liaison for animal facility design
  and renovation issues
• Vice-Chairman of UCUCA

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WHAT is UCUCA?

• University Committee on Use and Care of Animals
• It is mandated by two government regulations
• It reviews all applications to use animals at UM
• It inspects UM animal facilities twice per year
• Sometimes called the Institutional Animal Care
  and Use Committee (IACUC)

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WHAT is UCUCA?

• UCUCA is advisory to the Vice-President for
  Research
• Funding for UCUCA is through the Office of the
  Vice-President for Research
• Operation of the program and staff supervision is
  through ULAM

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WHAT are the LAWS?

• Animal Welfare Act
• Oversight by the USDA
• Covers all mammals except rats and mice
• Health Research Extension Act
• Oversight by the Public Health Service (PHS)
• Covers all vertebrates
• Applies because UM gets funds from PHS agencies
  (like NIH and CDC)

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Animal Welfare Act

• We must follow laws written by the USDA regarding
  care and housing of animals.
• Not following these rules is breaking the law,
  punishable by fine or suspension.
• USDA inspectors visit unannounced.
• Violations can be seen by the public using the
  Freedom of Information Act.

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Public Health Service Policy

• Requires institutions to follow a handbook known
  as the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory
  Animals.
• The Guide gives recommendations for animal care
  and facility management.
• Encourages animal research facilities to be
  accredited by AAALAC.

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WHAT is AAALAC?

• Association for the Assessment and Accreditation
  of Laboratory Animal Care
• AAALAC is a review body that assesses the animal
  facility once every 3 years.
• AAALAC site visitors are professionals from other
  institutions.
• AAALAC results are confidential.

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Animal Facilities

• Specialized areas of research buildings with
  unique needs and requirements
• HVAC
• Lighting
• Surfaces
• Fire alarms
• Plumbing
• Waste Management
• Security

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Animal Facilities - HVAC

• 10-15 air changes per hour
• 100 fresh air in and out
• Control of air flow relative to corridor
• Individual room re-heats
• NEW - ventilation directly into the cage
• Plant Dept. (Building Automation Services)
  getting more involved with monitoring and
  controlling animal room HVAC

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Animal Facilities - Lighting

• Day / night cycles
• Adjustable
• Override cannot have a hold feature
• Use of red light during night cycles
• Intensity
• Albino animals require lower intensity
• Most animal rooms have two-level lighting

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Animal Facilities - Surfaces

• In general, must be smooth, moisture resistant,
  free of imperfections, and easily cleanable
• Flooring
• Wall surfaces and paint
• Ceiling types
• Solid
• Suspended panels

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Animal Facilities - Fire Alarms

• Becoming an interesting issue
• Must balance needs of personnel safety against
  needs of research project to be free from
  undesirable noise and light
• Factors to consider
• Frequency (pitch) of alarm sound
• Decibel level
• Strobe lights

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Animal Facilities - Plumbing

• Hot and cold water
• Adequate drains
• Steam for cage washing equipment and room re-heat
  coils
• Automatic watering systems
• Tap water vs. deionized vs. reverse osmosis vs.
  well water
• Aquatic animals

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Animal Facilities - Waste Mgmt.

• Carcasses
• landfill vs. incineration vs. alkaline hydrolysis
• Bedding and stuff
• landfill
• Biohazards
• incineration vs. alkaline hydrolysis
• Recycling?

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Animal Facilities - Security

• New issue since late 1980s
• Problem Keep intruders out while letting
  research continue with minimal obstruction
• Does help ensure proper training of new research
  staff and reduce zoo use by UM employees
• ID card swipe replaces voice access system
• Intrusions report to Dept. of Public Safety

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WHO are we keeping out?

• The violent arm of the animal rights movement
• Individuals who feel that vandalism and
  law-breaking are acceptable actions in defense of
  their cause
• People who may be looking for information
  without permission
• People who simply have no reason to be in the
  animal facility

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WHY are they against Animal Research?

• Feel that research torture of animals
• Feel that research results have actually impeded
  medical progress
• Feel that animals are sentient beings and deserve
  rights equivalent to humans

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Benefits of Animal Research

• Product safety
• Medications
• Vaccines
• Surgical procedures
• Organ transplants
• Artificial joints and organs
• Heart-lung bypass

• Understanding of infectious diseases
• Understanding of metabolic diseases
• Understanding of genetic diseases
• Understanding of multifactorial diseases

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Benefits of Animal Research

• Artificial Heart
• Implanted in Louisville, used calves as model
• Artificial Lung
• Being developed here, uses sheep as model
• Gene Therapy
• Typically uses mice, sometimes monkeys
• Combating Biological Warfare
• Anthrax, smallpox

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More Alphabet Soup

• AALAS - American Association of Laboratory Animal
  Science
• Encompasses all aspects of laboratory animal care
  - vets, technicians, vendors, scientists
• Is the organization that sponsors our largest
  annual convention

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More Alphabet Soup

• ASLAP - American Society of Laboratory Animal
  Practitioners
• Composed of veterinarians only
• Is our political arm within the American
  Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)

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More Alphabet Soup

• ACLAM - American College of Laboratory Animal
  Medicine
• Composed of veterinarians only
• Is the specialty board - one must have
  credentials and pass an examination to be a
  member
• Publishes many texts on laboratory animal science
  and medicine