IACUCs and Animal Ethics Committees RESOURCES

Resources for searching for alternatives, of particular interest to Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) and other animal ethics regulators.

Analgesia/Anesthesia Database
Altweb has developed a specialized database on analgesia and anesthesia that will allow users to search for pain management alternatives. The Altweb database provides information on what’s available, side effects of commonly used drugs, and, in many cases, drug dose information. The database is searchable either by species or by drug.

Enhancing Humane Science Course
The Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) has developed a new online course, "Enhancing Humane Science—Improving Animal Research." The course is designed to provide researchers with the tools they need to practice the most humane science possible. It covers such topics as experimental design (including statistics and sample size determination), humane endpoints, environmental enrichment, post-surgical care, pain management, and the impact of stress on the quality of data. To register please visit the CAAT website.

Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (National Academy of Sciences)


Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Nondomestic Animals

Humane Endpoints Search
Altweb has just added a new database designed to help investigators find the earliest endpoint—i.e., the point at which an experimental animal's pain and/or distress can be terminated or reduced, whether by euthanasia, ending the procedure, or giving treatment—that is compatible with the scientific objectives of their research. The database also includes a keyword thesaurus of relevant search terms.

Resources for "Lay Members" of Ethics/Animal Care and Use Committees (RSPCA)

Searching for Alternatives (NEW)
A worksheet and collection of resources and databases designed to aid those searching for alternatives on the Web.

Section on Monoclonal Antibodies
This section offers a variety of readings on such issues as how in vitro methods compare with the ascites method in terms of cost, effectiveness, and pain and distress; descriptions of in vitro methods of MAB production; policies, regulations, guidelines, and recommendations regarding MABS; where to get in vitro MABs; and more.

Other Useful Resources

Some Links on Pain & Distress