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2005 Essay Contest Winners
High School Division Why Animals?
Situnyiwe Chirunga What would we do without biomedical research? The answer is easy, not much; the investment in animal research in the U.S. was about $45 billion in 2000. This includes all research, not just with animals but with both government and private funding. In 2000, Americans spent $1,299.5 billion on health care. In other words, for every dollar spent on health care, three and a half cents were spent on research. Economists estimate that the increase in life expectancy from the 1970s and 1980s alone was worth $57 trillion to Americans. The value of improvements in the prevention and treatment of cardio-vascular diseases alone estimated to be $31 trillion. The contribution of animal research to these savings is unquestionable. A report by the Lasker Foundation showed that Americans save $9 billion every year from the development of lithium as a treatment for bipolar disorder, development for which animal research was crucial. A $56 million research program on testicular cancer has yielded a 91 percent cure rate, and annual savings of $166 million. Scientists are pleased that the small investment in animal research yields improved treatments and cures that save money. But far more rewarding is the knowledge that animal research saves lives. Some people might ask: why should animals be the source of medical research? Research is the foundation for all medical science, and lab animals are the foundation of that research. Lab animals provide irreplaceable insights into human systems because there are so many similarities between the physiological and genetic systems of animals and humans. Yet, there is no complete replacement for a living system on which to conduct basic research. While medical and scientific advances achieved through animal research are frequently supplemented by knowledge obtained through non-animal methods - such as epidemiology, clinical observation, and post marketing drug surveillance - these alternative methods serve only as additions to basic animal research. Research with lab animals has resulted in many remarkable lifesaving and life-extending treatments for companion animals, farm animals, wildlife and endangered species. Whether scientists are working on advancing human medicine or veterinary medicine, they place a high priority on "The Three R" - reduction, replacement and refinement. In the U.S., our scientific and medical research communities are committed to supporting the development of research techniques that Reduce the numbers of animals used in each and every study, Replace lab animals with non-animal models whenever possible, and Refine the tests to ensure the most comfortable and humane conditions possible. Ways to reduce the number of animals needed for a research project in the beginning is by using the correct number the first time. If too few are studied the first time, the experiment may have to be repeated. Another way of reducing the number of animals needed is by studying genetically identical animals. This prevents variation in the results from genetic variations and makes it possible to get reliable answers with fewer animals. Research involving animals has to be designed so that any distress or discomfort is kept to a minimum. For example, if surgery is involved, the animal should be given appropriate anesthetic and painkillers. If a study requires multiple blood draws from an animal to measure the level of a particular hormone, for example, it may be possible to implant a small device to continuously monitor the hormone. This can be done with a simple operation under anesthetic so that the animal does not feel repeated needle sticks. Some research protocols are "non-survival" protocols and regrettably, the lab animals must be euthanized at the end of study for autopsy. This is done painlessly and as soon as possible to prevent an animal from experiencing the pain that could result from the advanced stages of a disease. Laboratory animals spend most of their lives living in the animal house and not being actively involved in research. So, it is important to consider their living conditions. These days' animals are kept in social groups, preferably in large cages or floor pens, with toys for them to play with. Rabbits are given bedding material, boxes and tubes. Rodents like to have nesting material. Dogs like to run in groups and have human company. Monkeys like branches to climb, swings, ropes, and platforms. Their diet also can be made much more interesting with fruit and other tidbits. The Office of Technology Assessment estimates that 17-23 million animals are used in the United States for research every year. The vast majority of these are about 95 percent rats and mice specifically bred for research. Dogs, cats, and non-human primates combined account for less than half of a percent of the total, and their numbers have been declining for nearly 30 years. The number of dogs used in biomedical research has declined 67 percent since 1973, and the number of cats used in biomedical research has declined 63 percent since 1973. Most people think that the animals used in biomedical research are in constant never-ending pain. This is not true. The majority of animals used in biomedical research do not experience significant pain or distress. According to the 2000 USDA Annual Report, 63 percent of animals experienced slight or momentary pain, such as an injection. Twenty-nine percent of the research procedures used anesthesia and postoperative painkillers. In 7 percent of the procedures, neither anesthesia nor pain medication could be used, as they would have interfered with research results. However, when this is the case, pain is minimized as much as possible. One of the most widely held misconceptions of animal research is that no regulatory system exists to protect the welfare of laboratory animals. It is common to hear animal activists claiming that scientists can do "anything they want" to laboratory animals without justification. Activists also imply that there is an endless supply of research dollars, and that scientists can qualify for funding simply by creating an animal experiment that has not been tried in the past. Actually, many factors prevent the unnecessary suffering of laboratory animals and the appropriation of money for lighthearted research. A federal law, the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), sets forth standards for the care and treatment of laboratory animals; including housing, feeding, cleanliness, ventilation, and veterinary care. All facilities using laboratory animals covered under the AWA must register with and be inspected by the United States Department of Agriculture's enforcement arm, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). It is the responsibility of APHIS - through random, unannounced inspections - to ensure that institutions are complying with all USDA regulations. The AWA also mandates the use of anesthesia or painkilling drugs for potentially painful procedures and for postoperative care unless the research precludes it. Some pain is inflicted in certain procedures and cannot be alleviated. For example, in research on pain relief for cancer patients, the animals endure some discomfort and distress. The Animal Welfare Act also requires that each institution establish an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which is responsible for evaluating the total animal care program, as well as for scrutinizing all proposed animal experiments. The committee has the power to reject any research proposal and stop ongoing projects if it believes USDA standards are not being met. All institutions receiving grants from the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) must adhere to its animal welfare assurance policy. In recent years, a number of non-animal procedures have been developed and that number continues to grow. Computers as well as cell, tissue and organ cultures, significantly reduce reliance on research animals and as more is learned about them, the limitations may be overcome. Possibly, the day may come when animal research is no longer necessary.
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MISMR members strongly support humane animal study in research. We hope that likeminded citizens will join us in working for rational public policy that assures the continued appropriate use of animals in the course of good science. |