Pharmaceutical, Medical or Biomedical Research

Coming Soon: Year Five of HRC's Animal Tracker

HRC Admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:45:00 -0800

We’re getting ready to launch year five of HRC’s Animal Tracker annual survey of the public opinions and behavior of adults in the U.S. This year’s survey, which will field in March, addresses opinions toward various social movements, who people trust to provide information about animal welfare, opinions about the adequacy of animal protection laws, attitudes toward the importance of animal welfare in various situations, and the frequency with which people discuss animal protection issues. We asked the exact same questions in 2008 and 2009 and will be able to analyze changes over time. When the results are available in April, we’ll also refresh the Animal Tracker graphing tool so that the results will be easy to access and interpret.

Assessing the Use of Chimpanzees in Research

Jill Howard Church — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:45:00 -0800

A report recently issued by the national Institute of Medicine is resulting in major changes in whether and how chimpanzees are used for research in the United States (one of only two countries in the world that permit the use of chimps at all).

More Than a Makeup Trend: New Survey Shows 72 Percent of Americans Oppose Testing Cosmetics Products on Animals

Carol L. Glasser — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

This survey evaluates the knowledge and attitudes of U.S. adults toward the use of animals in testing cosmetics. Most U.S. adults believe that testing cosmetics on animals is unethical and that it is important to develop alternatives.

Animal Researchers: How Do They Do It?

Carol L. Glasser — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:35:32 -0800

In a previous blog series, I explored how denial works to allow humans to become willing participants and bystanders in the suffering of animals. Much of the discussion centered on how employees and subordinates learn to acquiesce to requests from superiors and how the average person learns to ignore the violence inherent in everyday and normalized uses of animals (food, clothing, entertainment, etc.). What I did not thoroughly explore was how those with more economic and social privilege in their careers could engage in types of animal exploitation that are atypical on animals who are often beloved in our culture. This is precisely what animal experimenters are engaged in and a question I have, that leaves many animal advocates baffled, is “How do they do it?”

Chimpanzees in Biomedical and Behavioral Research: Assessing the Necessity

Carol L. Glasser — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:45:00 -0800

This report was compiled for the National Institutes of Heath to assess the need for the use of chimpanzees in medical and scientific research. The committee that compiled the report did not suggest banning the use of chimpanzees, though they did determine that most current biomedical research use of chimpanzees is not necessary. The report presents a set of criteria to evaluate the necessity of using chimpanzees in future research.

Sacrificial Symbolism in Animal Experimentation: Object or Pet?

Carol L. Glasser — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:45:00 -0800

This study examines how animals used in research are viewed by laboratory workers and experimenters. The issue is examined through ethnographic research in animal testing facilities and interviews with employees of these facilities.

The Role of Animals in Research: An Online Informational Resource for Members of the UBC Community...

Carol L. Glasser — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 07:45:00 -0800

The University of British Columbia has a website detailing data and statistics about the use of animals in research at the university. Note that the website provides select data and is written from a pro-animal research perspective.

New Product Tests Spare the Animals

Carol L. Glasser — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 08:45:00 -0700

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a toxicity test for Botox developed by the company Allergan Inc. that does not use animals. Researchers have developed a toxicity test that utilizes nerve cells in a petri dish to replace the Lethal Dose 50% test that was previously used to test every batch of Botox the company made.

Decisions about the Use of Animals in Research: Ethical Reflection by Animal Ethics Committee Members

Carol L. Glasser — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:45:00 -0700

This study examines the Institutional Animal Ethics Committees (IAECs) that regulate animal experimentation in universities, based on 28 in-depth interviews with IAEC board members. Specifically, the study looks at how decisions are made regarding which animal experiments are deemed ethical.

Humane Trends Baseline Report (2011)

Carol L. Glasser — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 07:45:00 -0700

Humane Trends is a barometer of the status of animal protection in the United States. This study brings together a collection of 25 diverse indicators to assess the status and progress of animal well-being, providing a comprehensive view of animal use and abuse in the United States to help inform animal advocates as well as policymakers and the public. Although Humane Trends compiles the most accurate data currently available for each indicator, the overall study is limited by the lack of reliable data regarding animal protection issues. Humane Trends serves to underscore the need for further research and more accurate information about our treatment of animals.