| 1 |
An investigator had the option of using tissue from humanely killed rats (purchased for the experiment) or donated human tissue in their experiment. The source of the tissue did not matter scientifically. The investigator decided to use rat tissue because using human tissue required additional administrative steps before the study could proceed. Is the investigator's decision justified?
|
| 2 |
An investigator received approval from the animal care committee to use 20 rainbow trout in a cancer research protocol. After a last-minute consultation with a biostatistician, the investigator learned that if the study design was changed, only 15 animals needed to be used to obtain the same result. However, the investigator decided to go ahead with the study as planned and use the 20 trout. Do you agree with the investigator's decision?
|
| 3 |
Would you change your answer [in question 2] if the research animals were beagles rather than trout?
|
| 4 |
In some types of research, analgesia is withheld because the use of pain relieving drugs is thought to interfere with the experimental objective. In procedures resulting in painful outcomes for the animals, should pain relief always be provided?
|
| 5 |
Some investigators try to minimize the total number of animals by re-using animals. Should animals be re-used in research protocols?
|
| 6 |
One way to improve animal welfare outcomes for animals used in scientific research is to add pilot studies to the main experiment to determine the impact of these different procedures on the experimental endpoint. Would you consider conducting an animal welfare-related pilot study prior to, or in parallel with your main research?
|
| 7 |
Some efforts to implement animal welfare initiatives in research may lead to increased financial costs. For example, the establishment of cell cultures to raise monoclonal antibodies, rather than using mice. Should financial cost be a factor when making decisions about animal welfare initiatives?
|
| 8 |
When animal use protocols are prepared, investigators are expected to review ways that they can replace, reduce and refine animal use. When should assistance with replacement, reduction and refinement be provided to researchers?
|
| 9 |
In your research, what is the biggest obstacle to the replacement, reduction and refinement of animal use?
|
