position statement on the use of animals in research

UAR position statement on the use of animals in research

Understanding Animal Research (UAR) supports the humane use of animals in biomedical research, and believes that animal research is a vital part of the scientific process. For over 150 years research using animals has advanced scientific understanding of human and animal health and the impact of the environment on wildlife. This research should never be undertaken lightly and animals should only be used when there is no alternative method available.

Animal research is often used to discover how the basic processes of the body work, and how these can go wrong when the body is affected by disease. This knowledge is vital if we are to develop effective treatments for illnesses affecting humans or animals. Animal research has given us many treatments for critical conditions such as cancer and diabetes, and has allowed the development of preventive measures such as human vaccines. Hundreds of millions of human and animal lives have been saved or improved as a direct result of research on animals. It is sometimes necessary to test substances on animals to understand how they might affect the safety of people, animals and the environment, but only when it is not possible to gather this important information by other means.

We expect the animal research that we support to be of high quality: well-designed, ethically justified, subject to rigorous peer review, and well reported. Animal welfare is important to us, and we expect researchers, animal technologists and their supporting communities to strive towards excellent housing and experimental conditions for their research animals.

UAR is committed to the 3Rs of reduction, replacement and refinement as basic principles of humane animal research, and expects our members to actively employ these to improve animal welfare. This means that animals should be replaced with non-animal research methods wherever possible, that the minimum number of animals needed to give meaningful results should be used, and that research methods should aim to both improve the quality of the data obtained and reduce suffering wherever possible.

Openness and transparency around the use of animals in research is important if we are to have honest conversations about the benefits, harms and limitations of animal research. UAR aims to explain our positions and values clearly, and encourage the life-science sector to be clear about how, when and why animals are used in research. We have worked with the life-sciences community to develop the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research in the UK, driving a culture of greater openness on this issue. We strive to ensure that the scientific community is not at risk of, and does not feel at risk of, harassment or assault because of their association with animal research.

Good research practice and good animal welfare go hand in hand to generate good science. Good animal welfare relies, in turn, on the individuals who care for the animals and who carry out the research being supported, listened to, and educated. A caring institutional culture that allows staff to speak out where they see problems developing, and which supports them in their work-place is important to the well-being of the animals that they work with. We understand that many who work in animal research have chosen a career that allows them to make a real difference to the lives of people or animals, and we aim to support them to succeed.

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2015 - Use of Animals in Research

08 May 2015 publication

Research using animals is required to understand how microbes cause disease in human and animal hosts, how hosts respond to infection and the relationship between host microbiomes and health. Such research has been, and continues to be, vital for protecting human and animal health through the discovery and development of safe and effective vaccines, antibiotics and drugs. Through contributing to improved livestock health, research using animals also benefits society through helping to secure food production and the economic impact of agriculture.

Policy Officer , Microbiology Society.

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Cover of Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals , 8th edition

National Research Council (US) Committee for the Update of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals .

The purpose of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide ), as expressed in the charge to the Committee for the Update of the Guide , is to assist institutions in caring for and using animals in ways judged to be scientifically, technically, and humanely appropriate. The Guide is also intended to assist investigators in fulfilling their obligation to plan and conduct animal experiments in accord with the highest scientific, humane, and ethical principles. Recommendations in the Guide are based on published data, scientific principles, expert opinion, and experience with methods and practices that have proved to be consistent with both high-quality research and humane animal care and use. These recommendations should be used as a foundation for the development of a comprehensive animal care and use program, recognizing that the concept and application of performance standards, in accordance with goals, outcomes, and considerations defined in the Guide , is essential to this process.

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The National Academies
Committee for the Update of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
Institute for Laboratory Animal Research Council
Institute for Laboratory Animal Research Publications
APPLICABILITY AND GOALS
INTENDED AUDIENCES AND USES OF THE GUIDE
ETHICS AND ANIMAL USE
THE THREE Rs
KEY TERMS USED IN THE GUIDE
POLICIES, PRINCIPLES, AND PROCEDURES
MUST, SHOULD, AND MAY
REGULATIONS, POLICIES, AND PRINCIPLES
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
PROGRAM OVERSIGHT
DISASTER PLANNING AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
TERRESTRIAL ANIMALS
AQUATIC ANIMALS
ANIMAL PROCUREMENT AND TRANSPORTATION
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
CLINICAL CARE AND MANAGEMENT
PAIN AND DISTRESS
ANESTHESIA AND ANALGESIA
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
FUNCTIONAL AREAS
CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES
SPECIAL FACILITIES
SECURITY AND ACCESS CONTROL
Addendum Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals Eighth Edition
Appendix A Additional Selected References
Appendix B U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training
Appendix C Statement of Task
Appendix D About the Authors

This study was supported by the Office of Extramural Research, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health/Department of Health and Human Services under Contract Number N01-OD-4-2139 Task Order #188; the Office of Research Integrity, Department of Health and Human Services; the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International; American Association for Laboratory Animal Science; Abbott Fund; Pfizer; American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine; American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners; Association of Primate Veternarians.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the National Institutes of Health, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the US government.

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the Committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

Cite this Page National Research Council (US) Committee for the Update of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. 8th edition. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2011. doi: 10.17226/12910
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Animal Research

Position statements.

Animal studies continue to play a crucial part in medical, veterinary and scientific research that benefits both animals and humans. Americans for Medical Progress supports research involving animals when it is necessary to advance our understanding of biological processes. Because animals are living creatures that deserve respect, care and compassion, such research should always be conducted in an ethical, judicious, and responsible manner and in compliance with laws and guidelines that govern the care and treatment of laboratory animals. Access to rapid, safe, and reliable modes of transportation also contributes to the welfare of animals needed to study specific diseases.

See our FAQ for answers to these and other questions:

How do we learn from biomedical research using animals?
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Why can’t alternatives like computers replace research animals?

We salute organizations that have published their own statements explaining the importance of animal research. Excerpts of these statement are included below.

Please contact us if you wish to add your own organization’s position statement, or to request our Guide for Developing a Statement About Animal Research or one-on-one assistance.

AbbVie . “AbbVie is committed to ensuring the humane care and use of laboratory animals in the company’s research and development programs. We recognize that high quality science and humane animal care are inseparable.” More

American Lung Association. “The American Lung Association recognizes the critical role animal research has played in making medical advances. The American Lung Association strongly supports full compliance with the existing rules and regulations that assure the humane and compassionate management of laboratory animals.” More

American Physiological Society. “Humane research involving animals provides unique insights into biological structure and function.” More

American University. “American University adheres to the principle that scientific knowledge developed through animal research helps to improve the understanding of human behavior and pathology. The use of animal models provides a way to gain insight into the etiology and possible treatment of the human condition, alleviating pain and suffering, improving human and animal health and saving countless lives.” More

American Veterinary Medical Association . “The AVMA recognizes that animals have an important role in research, testing, and education for continued improvement of human and animal health and welfare.” More

Amgen . “Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering and developing innovative human therapeutics. As part of that mission, Amgen is ethically and legally obliged to rigorously evaluate the efficacy, safety and quality of potential new medicines. While many of these evaluations can be accomplished by techniques that do not require the use of animals, given the present state of scientific knowledge, testing innovative new medicines in animals is frequently critical to their evaluation and is required by regulatory authorities worldwide.” More

Arizona State University. “ASU conducts research of vital interest to society and the health and welfare of individuals. Some of that research is devoted to advancing health care and finding cures for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Ebola and heart disease. Animal research has played a major role in virtually every major medical advance in the last century and remains integral to biomedical progress. A study by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) concluded that animal research has helped increase the life expectancy of humans by 20.8 years. Animal research is also critical for advances in veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation, both of which depend on improvements in our understanding of animal behavior, ecology, physiology, pathology, nutrition and stress responses. Millions of people and a similar number of animals would suffer or die unnecessarily if animal research were to cease.” More

Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. “Research in vision and ophthalmology improves quality of life. This improvement stems from progress in ameliorating human and animal injury/disease and disability through advances in human and veterinary medicine, and by improving our understanding of human and animal life. Because so much of vision research is aimed at understanding the structure and function of complex and intricately connected biological systems, work with living animals is vital to continued progress in many areas of clinical and basic research on vision. The proper use of animals in research is, therefore, an honorable and essential contribution to the improvement of both human and animal lives. More

AstraZeneca. “The use of animals in research is a small but vital part of the process of bringing new medicines to patients. Although advances continue to be made in non-animal alternatives, some animal studies remain necessary to explore and understand fundamental science, as well as to establish the safety and efficacy of new medicines before they reach patients.” More

Baxter. “Baxter supports the conscientious use of animals in research only when the scientific purpose of the research is of sufficient potential significance to justify such use and no other reasonable scientific or regulatorily acceptable non-animal alternative exists to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the company’s life-saving and life-sustaining products and therapies. The company embraces its ethical responsibility to ensure the well-being and humane care of the animals used for product development and testing. In the substantial majority of cases where Baxter uses animals, it is required by health authorities to do so.” More

Boston University. “Boston University is a major academic research institution conducting high-quality research as part of its mission of advancing human health. Animal research has been, and continues to be, a critical component of the efforts in advancing our understanding of cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to name a few.” More

Bristol-Myers Squibb. “We take seriously our responsibility for the ethical treatment of animals used in research. Our mission to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines has both a legal and ethical obligation to ensure their safety and efficacy prior to use in humans. Regulatory agencies around the world require that investigational medicines be thoroughly evaluated before approval for use in human clinical trials. Research or testing methods that include the use of animals are sometimes required, and will continue to be a component of our efforts. At the same time, providing high-quality humane animal care and developing alternatives to animal use are moral, scientific and legal necessities. We are committed to reducing our reliance on animal testing methods, and promoting the development, validation and use of non-animal testing models.” More

Brookhaven National Laboratory. “Public support for animal research comes as a privilege and imparts great responsibility on the part of institutions, researchers, and animal caretakers. Brookhaven National Laboratory’s (BNL) policy on the care and use of animals in research is to carefully consider all proposed animal experimentation and to ensure the ethical treatment of animals used in research.” More

Brown University. “Foremost, we are committed to providing healthy, well-cared-for animals, which are essential to meaningful research, and maintaining the animal facility for their daily care.” More

California Institute of Technology. “Caltech is committed to ensuring that animals involved in research and teaching receive humane care and treatment.” More

California State University, Fullerton. “California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) is committed to the humane care and use of animals in teaching and research. This commitment is reflected in the presence of an accredited and state-licensed Veterinarian and Certified Laboratory Animal Technologist/Registered Veterinarian Technician, who have, as their principal concern, the health and welfare of animals. CSUF has a designated Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which is composed of a panel of experts on animal health and welfare, life and behavioral sciences, laboratory safety and federal regulations, as well as a representative from the community at large.” More

Carnegie Mellon University. “Maintaining humane animal care in research and teaching requires conscientious adherence to animal welfare regulations. Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) follows the Federal regulations and guidelines set forth in the PHS Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory and the Animal Welfare Act.” More

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “CDC has a legal and moral responsibility to ensure that the animals entrusted to our care are treated in accordance with the highest standards of animal welfare and care.” More

Charles River Laboratories. “Animals have contributed to nearly every medical breakthrough in recent history, including treatments for cancer, diabetes, and AIDS, and they continue to play an essential role in the development of life-saving drugs for people and other animals. The welfare of the animals contributing to research is of utmost importance and a prerequisite for the accuracy, reliability, and translatability of our research.” More

Colorado State University. “Laboratory animals have played a vital role in many of the most significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, and continue to be a critical resource. Transporting animals between specialized breeders and institutions is important to continue new discoveries and foster collaborations. Airlines and other transportation services are critical for this work, and LAR supports the continued safe, humane, and rapid transport of laboratory animals to improve the lives of both humans and animals.” More

Columbia University. “Animal-based medical research has been the foundation of countless critical health-related advances—saving millions of lives, both human and animal. Animals have played an essential role in the development of treatments that provide hope to patients with serious diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, cancer, AIDS and heart disease.” More

Dartmouth. “Dartmouth College’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) ensures that all research and teaching protocols using live vertebrate animals are designed and carried out in a humane manner that complies with all applicable laws, polices, and guidelines” More

Dupont. “DuPont conducts laboratory animal testing and livestock feeding trials in order to bring beneficial products to consumers, to maintain our commitment to safety, health and the environment, and to comply with regulatory requirements. Our use of animals, in both product development and chemical safety assessment, consistently reflects our concern for the welfare and ethical treatment of these animals.” More

Duke University. “Duke University strongly affirms the essential role that research and education involving live animals has in the advancement of biological and medical knowledge. Further, Duke University acknowledges that animals used in biomedical research and education should receive the best possible care and be treated with respect.” More

DuMond Conservancy. “The mission of the DuMond Conservancy is to engage scientists, students, and the public in the understanding and stewardship of nonhuman primates and their tropical forest habitats. We provide opportunities for scientists and for students of varying ages and abilities to participate in creative science and educational programs and to experience unique encounters with nonhuman primates.” More

Emory National Primate Center. “Research with animals is critical to finding causes, preventions, treatments and cures for disease, and part of helping people and animals worldwide live longer, healthier lives.” More

Emory University. “Emory University is firmly committed to discovering knowledge that will lead to the treatment and cure of disease and physical injury. Insofar as the discovery of knowledge through scientific research often involves animals, Emory is also committed to the highest ethical standards in the care of animal subjects. It is the policy of Emory University to adhere conscientiously to all of the humane standards set by the Animal Welfare Act (United States Department of Agriculture/USDA), the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the Standards of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC), whose certification is regarded as the gold seal of approval for laboratory animal care, and the policies of the Emory University Board of Trustees.” More

Inotiv. “Inotiv is a global company that is committed to helping customers realize the full potential of their products and research which contribute to enhancing the lives of people and animals, as well as protecting the environment. The value of animals in this critical research is essential for advancing our understanding of the body in health and disease and for developing new medicines and other compounds. Without animal research, we would not be able to produce the life-changing medicines that enhance and save lives across the world.” More

Eli Lilly. “W e have a moral and ethical responsibility for the welfare of animals used in research, which is why we have strong policies and principles in place to ensure that all animal research conducted either by our employees or by third parties on our behalf is in line with our values. ” More

Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. “The role of animals remains critical in understanding the fundamental processes of life and in developing treatments for injury and disease.” More

Franklin and Marshall College. “The College is committed to ensuring that the care and use of animals in teaching or research is consistent with sound ethical principles and that it is in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.” More

Georgia Tech. “Regardless of the cultural, ethical, and religious tradition that one embraces, there is widespread agreement that animals should not be caused to suffer needlessly. This notion undeniably applies to research contexts, implying that there is an obligation that researchers have to consider the potential impact which their work can and will have on animal subjects.” More

GSK. “We take our moral and societal responsibility to animals seriously by providing high standards for the care, welfare and treatment of all animals in our charge. “ More

Harvard. “ Harvard’s animal care and use programs are based on the three “R”s as described by Russell and Burch in The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique . These principles advocate the need to reduce the number of animals used, refine experiments to minimize distress, or replace animals with non-animal models (e.g., in vitro experiments or computer simulations) whenever possible. ” More

Humboldt State University. “ Federal regulations require that faculty, staff, and students at Humboldt State University who use live vertebrate animals in their teaching or research must conform to applicable regulations and policies that govern animal care and use on the campus. These procedures address the acquisition of animals, their transportation, use and care, efforts to minimize pain and distress, consideration of alternatives to the use of animals, and training of personnel. ” More

Illinois State University. “ Illinois State University is committed to humane animal care and use and encourages anyone who perceives a problem with the way animals are housed, handled, or used in research to report their concerns to their supervisor.” More

International Brain Research Organization. “The undersigned neuroscience societies strongly advocate the responsible use of animals in biological and biomedical research. Animal models are vital and irreplaceable for scientific progress and in combating the devastation of human neurological and psychiatric diseases, which affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, and for improving veterinary health.” More

John Hopkins University. “Animals that are used in research and teaching at the Johns Hopkins University are covered by our Animal Care and Use Program. The Johns Hopkins program is designed to assure that it is in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act regulations and Public Health Service (PHS) Policy.” More

Johnson & Johnson. “Johnson & Johnson is committed to ensure the ethical treatment of animals used in laboratory settings to advance patient safety and well-being. Johnson & Johnson operating companies have policies and guidelines in place that drive the ethical and humane treatment of the animals we use, and that promote the use of nonanimal alternatives whenever feasible.” More

Josman, LLC. “We believe animal testing for scientific purpose and the ethical care of animals are compatible goals. A healthy, stress-free animal with a robust immune system is critical to the success of your antibody production research. Our facility utilizes an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) which reviews animal protocols to ensure proper regulatory and human care is provided.” More

Labcorp. “We are committed to ensuring the welfare of animals we work with in research.  Animal research is critical to developing new, safe and effective medicines, devices and products that protect and save the lives of people and animals. ” More

Lonza. “In order to ensure the safe handling and use of products, regulatory authorities in many countries require various tests which, given the current state of scientific development, still require the use of animal testing.” More

Louisana State University. “The use of laboratory animals in teaching and research is a fundamental necessity of continued progress in the biomedical sciences. Such use of animals constitutes a special privilege to the scientific community.” More

Marshall University. “The use of animals for teaching and research is a fundamental part of biology and medicine. Suitable animals are required for investigative and teaching purposes. Proper care and management of these animals is both a scientific necessity and a legal requirement.” More

Merck & Co., Inc. “Laboratory animal research is indispensable to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of innovative medicines that treat and prevent disease. Our company is dedicated to the ethical and responsible treatment of all animals used in the development of medicines and vaccines.” More

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. “The Marine Biomedical Research Program focuses on basic and applied research using sharks, skates, and stingrays as laboratory animal models. Areas of interest include biochemistry, physiology, immunology, reproductive biology and embryonic development.” More

NASA. “Research subjects such as rodents (and other animals) allow us to control for variables that are related to exposure to spaceflight and conduct experiments that would be impossible to test on human subjects. Space Biology researchers can use a variety of methods, techniques, and tools to elucidate the effects that spaceflight has on model organisms at the molecular, cellular, and systemic levels.” More

National Animal Interests Alliance. “Incredible advances in human and animal health have been made as a result of carefully designed and implemented research protocols. Vaccines, anesthetics, pain medications, surgical procedures, diagnostic tests, therapeutic drugs, treatment plans for diseases and injuries, and preventive practices have been developed through animal research.” More

National Institutes of Health. “All animals used in federally funded research are protected by laws, regulations, and policies to ensure the smallest possible number of subjects and the greatest commitment to their comfort. Fulfilling these protections is a collaborative effort between NIH, federally supported scientific investigators, and research institutions.” More

National Kidney Foundation. “Virtually all of the recent improvements in the care of patients with kidney disease have resulted from the basic research involving the use of laboratory animals.” More

National Primate Research Centers. “…Because our animals are crucial to discovering causes, preventions, treatments and cures, we have tailored programs to meet their species-typical needs as well as their psychological well-being. these programs include socialization, foraging and sensory opportunities, manipulable objects, climbing structures and positive reinforcement training to help facilitate animal care, veterinary procedures and research.” More

Northern Illinois University. “Northern Illinois University is committed to conducting quality animal research in an ethical and responsible manner to further science and improve the health of society.” More

Novartis. “ Animal research is key to many of the great medical advances of today, including cancer treatments; medicines to treat neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, medicines for diseases that have high morbidity and mortality rates around the world like high blood pressure, diabetes, malaria and much more.” More

Oregon National Primate Research Center. “The Oregon National Primate Research Center’s (ONPRC’s) contributions to biomedical research rely on scientific integrity, a commitment to innovative research, and ultimately a fundamental respect for life. Our animals are crucial to discovering more effective and accessible vaccines, treatments, and cures for a myriad of devastating human diseases.” More

Pfizer. “Pfizer is dedicated to helping people live longer, healthier lives through the discovery and development of breakthrough medicines and therapies. Animal-based biomedical research in the pharmaceutical industry remains a vital component of the discovery, evaluation and regulatory processes, which lead to the development of products that save or improve human lives throughout the world.” More

Princeton University. “Princeton University is deeply committed to the care and welfare of animals in research. The University recognizes that scientific and medical knowledge developed through animal research has the capacity to save lives, improve human and animal health, and alleviate pain and suffering.” More

Rockland Antibodies & Assays. “Rockland is committed to take actions to ensure that laboratory animals are treated according to high ethical and scientific standards.” More

Society for Neuroscience. “Countless health advances that exist today, including medications, flu shots, veterinary interventions, and minimally invasive surgery, have been made possible through decades of responsible animal research.” More

Stanford University. “Animal studies play a vital role in advancing science and finding new and improved ways of fighting serious diseases. Stanford University is committed to the responsible care and use of animals in research.” More

Stanford University School of Medicine. “The Stanford University School of Medicine supports the conduct of biomedical research to further the understanding of the world in which we live and to apply this knowledge for the benefit of humans and animals.” More

State University of New York at Buffalo. “Animal research is changing, in part because of newer computer modeling techniques and cell tissue / organ culture methodologies that have reduced the need for animals to be used in research and teaching.” More

Summit Ridge Farms. “We are dedicated to the humane care and welfare of all our dogs and cats. It is our privilege to work with these animals everyday and give them the care and respect they deserve.” More

Texas Biomedical Institute-Southwest National Primate Research Center. “While some research questions may adequately be addressed using cell cultures, tissue studies or computer models, which we also employ at Texas Biomed and the SNPRC, research with animals continues to be critical for the advancement of human health.” More

Thomas Jefferson University. “The mission of the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC). is to assist investigators and staff of the University, helping them to plan and conduct research that uses animals in accord with the highest ethical, humane, and scientific principles and in compliance with federal laws and regulations.” More

Tulane National Primate Center. “Animal Research Helps People and Animals. Virtually everyone alive today has benefited from the medical advances made possible through animal research. Polio, smallpox, diphtheria, cholera and measles are no longer major threats to public health in the United States.” More

U.S. Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Services (ARS) . “ARS is committed to ensuring the humane treatment and welfare of animals used for any purpose in fulfilling the research mission of the Agency. ARS personnel or ARS-funded facilities using animals for any purpose shall adhere to applicable regulations.” More

U.S. Department of Defense . “DoD sponsored research using animals is of the highest standard in the world, providing research animals with humane care and treatment to the greatest practical extent.” More

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. “The use of animals in VA research is a privilege granted to those investigators and programs that commit to meeting the highest ethical and regulatory standards.” More

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “ These animal efficacy studies substitute for efficacy trials in humans, and therefore, the assessment of efficacy in animals should follow best practices for adequate and well-controlled human efficacy studies, with endpoints that demonstrate an important clinical benefit, generally the enhancement of survival or prevention of major morbidity. All studies subject to this rule must be conducted in accordance with preexisting requirements under the good laboratory practices regulations and the Animal Welfare Act.” More

University of Alaska, Anchorage. “At the core of this program is the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. The University’s goal is to foster a supportive environment for high-quality research, education, and service while ensuring that all use of live vertebrates is adequately justified and conducted by knowledgeable people using the most appropriate methodology. ” More

University of Alaska, Fairbanks. “The merits of animal research are widely accepted by scientists and largely appreciated by the general public. Major biomedical research institutions, professional societies, and research scientists have a shared understanding of the tremendous value gained from studies using animal subjects” More

University of Arizona, University Animal Care. “UAC ensures humane and appropriate animal care and use by providing for the animals daily needs, veterinary care, and monitoring the use of the animals by principal investigators, technical personnel, and students. UAC is devoted to maintaining a safe environment that minimizes the risk of disease or injury to the animals and the personnel who work with them.” More

University of California, Berkeley. “ All institutions using vertebrate animals for research or instruction must establish an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to oversee and evaluate the institution’s animal care and use program. This committee at UC Berkeley, the Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC), falls under the purview of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research.” More

University of California, Los Angeles. “World-class scientists at UCLA utilize laboratory animals in research in an ongoing quest for knowledge that benefits society. This research has enhanced our understanding of how the human body functions and led to the development of lifesaving procedures and medicines — among them radiation therapy and other cancer treatments, open-heart surgery, fetal circulatory health treatments, organ transplantation, mental health treatments and vaccines.” More

University of California, San Francisco. “The IACUC oversees all UCSF research and instruction that involves vertebrate animals, in order to ensure that the highest ethical and animal welfare standards are met through all applicable federal, state, and University laws and regulations.” More

University of Central Arkansas. “All activities involving animals must be conducted in accordance with humane and ethical principals as established by federal laws, regulations, and guidelines pertaining to animal care and use.” More

University of Delaware. “Federal regulations require that all use of non-human vertebrate animals in research, teaching, and testing follow established guidelines and be reviewed and approved by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which is constituted according to the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.” More

University of Michigan. “Research studies involving animals have made critical contributions to the treatment of a wide variety of diseases – as well as joint replacement procedures, organ transplantations, and heart bypass operations – and are responsible for countless drug therapy discoveries and enhancements.” More

University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine. “The College’s animal resources unit is passionate about promoting and providing optimal laboratory animal care and use as well as high-quality support services through professional management, education, and training.” More

University of Iowa. “ University of Iowa Principles for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (adapted from the U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training. )” More

University of Maryland. “The IACUC adheres to the belief that the development of knowledge necessary for the improvement of the health and well-being of humans as well as other animals requires in vivo experimentation with a wide variety of animal species.” More

University of Michigan. “Laboratory animals have been central to the advancement of knowledge that has led to a vast array of benefits to both human and animal health. This site highlights the importance of this work, and how the University ensures the humane and ethical treatment of all animals used in research and training.” More

University of Minnesota. “The University of Minnesota supports the use of animals in research projects for its crucial contribution to discoveries that improve and save lives. The U maintains the highest standards of animal care; conforms to all ethical, legal and safety regulations; and only uses animals when there is no accurate, scientifically validated alternative.” More

University of Northern Colorado. “The University of Northern Colorado (UNC) has provided a formal assurance to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stating that UNC will comply with the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.” More

University of Pennsylvania. “Animal research is vital to the discovery of biological processes and the development of treatments for diseases to eliminate them or ease suffering, and improve overall quality of life. Current technology is, unfortunately, not yet advanced enough to fully replicate the complex biological systems of a living being. Even when non-living systems can be used to develop new ideas and treatments, it is usually necessary to test them in live animals to further examine their effectiveness and, importantly, verify their safety.” More

University of Pittsburgh. “Studying animals gives us a window into understanding how our own bodies work. We then use this knowledge to develop treatments for devastating diseases. Such advances have saved millions of lives and drastically improved the quality of life for millions more.” More

University of San Diego. “The University of San Diego is committed to the ethical treatment and use of animals in all teaching and research activities conducted on campus.” More

University of South Alabama. “The responsible use of animals is an essential part of the research, education and service missions of the University of South Alabama. It is the University community’s responsibility to insure that these animals are used and cared for in a humane way. “ More

University of South Florida. “The University of South Florida (USF) affirms that respect for all forms of life is an inherent characteristic of biological and medical scientists who conduct research involving animals, that the respectful treatment, care and use of animals involved in research is an ethical and scientific necessity, and that the use of animals in research and teaching contributes to the advancement of knowledge and the acquisition of understanding.” More

University of Tennessee Chattanooga. “The university regards the use of animals in research and teaching to be an essential component for continued progress in the field of science. It is committed to the highest ethical standard of animal care.” More

University of Texas at Austin. “It is the policy of The University of Texas at Austin (“University”) to assure the care and use of animals for University research, teaching, and testing activities is done in accordance with applicable federal and state laws or regulations.” More

University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio. “ The Health Science Center program for the humane care and use of laboratory animals involves four entities working together to ensure that the University remains in compliance with federal and institutional guidelines and regulations and remains accredited by the regulatory agencies.” More

University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston. “The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) recognizes the importance of animals in research and the scientific and ethical responsibility for their humane care and use. All those involved with the use of laboratory animals are responsible for insuring the health and well-being of the animals used in research and education at UTHealth.” More

University of Texas MD Anderson Keeling Center. “We will continually set, refine and advance the world’s standards for the humane care and management of laboratory animals in cancer and allied disease research. Our standard will be defined by quality of care and research service as well as compassion and respect for the needs of research animals.” More

University of Utah. “The University of Utah is devoted to high quality science and recognizes that it is inseparable from humane animal care. We are committed to responsible and ethical research and follow rigorous guidelines to meet the highest standards of animal welfare.” More

University of Washington. “The University of Washington (UW) is committed to conducting quality animal research in an ethical and responsible manner to further science and to improve the health of society. The UW’s Office of Animal Welfare (OAW) provides support to the UW Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), as well as, to researchers utilizing live vertebrate animals for teaching and research.” More

University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Animal research is an indispensable tool for understanding complex living organisms, and many University of Wisconsin–Madison research programs study animals as models of human disease and to explore basic biological processes.” More

University of Wyoming. “The University recognizes the importance of animals in research and the scientific and ethical responsibility for their humane care and use. All those involved with the use of laboratory animals are responsible for ensuring the health and well-being of the animals used in research and education at the University.” More

Virginia Commonwealth University. “Public support for animal research comes as a privilege and imparts great responsibility on the part of institutions, researchers, and animal caretakers. Virginia Commonwealth University places the ethical treatment of animals as a primary responsibility and the founding principal of our animal care and use program.” More

Wake Forest School of Medicine. “Animal research is vitally important in understanding how a healthy body works and how diseases, illnesses, and injuries affect that body in both humans and other animals. Animal research has made possible virtually all the medications, medical devices, surgeries, treatments, and therapies we need when we are sick or injured.” More

Weber State University. “Weber State University is committed to the proper treatment of animal research subjects. Unnecessary pain to any creature is to be avoided.” More

West Virginia University. “The West Virginia University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) oversees the entire animal care program at WVU, insuring the health and well-being of all animals being used for research, testing, and education. The IACUC serves as a resource to investigators, technicians, students, staff and administrators, providing guidance in fulfilling the obligation to plan and conduct all animal use procedures with the highest scientific, humane, and ethical principles.” More

Wisconsin National Primate Research Center. “ Animal research is an indispensable tool for understanding complex living organisms, and many University of Wisconsin–Madison research programs study animals as models of human disease and to explore basic biological processes. The university’s commitment to responsible and ethical research conducted under the attention of skilled veterinarians continues a long history of improving human and animal health and well-being.” More

World Medical Association. “Biomedical research is essential to the health and well-being of our society. Advances in biomedical research have dramatically improved the quality and prolonged the duration of life throughout the world.” More

Yale University. “Yale University is committed to conducting quality animal research in an ethical and responsible manner to further science and to improve the health of society.” More

Please contact us if you wish to add your own organization’s position statement, or you would like our assistance in developing one.

Thank you to Speaking of Research from where we pulled this initial list . To see position statements for animal research globally, please see their website .

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Article Contents

Ssr position statement on the use of animals in research and education.

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SSR Position Statement on the use of Animals in Research and Education, Biology of Reproduction , Volume 64, Issue 1, 1 January 2001, Page iii, https://doi.org/10.1093/biolreprod/64.1.iii

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The Society for the Study of Reproduction affirms the essential contribution of animals in research and education aimed at improving the health and well being of both humans and animals. The role of animals remains critical in understanding the fundamental processes of life and in developing treatments for injury and disease. The SSR believes that educational objectives are best met when teaching focuses on animals as living, sentient creatures, emphasizing their behavior, life history, and relationships with their environment. The SSR considers that the use of animals in education is a privilege, which imposes a major responsibility on educators to provide for their proper care and humane treatment.

For pre-college biology education, the SSR deems that the educational value of using living animals is not sufficient to justify major manipulations of their behavior or environment or any procedures that cause pain, distress or discomfort. At this level, activities involving live animals should be limited to supervised observations of behavior, growth, and development of domestic mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates, and their routine care. Educators proposing to involve animals in the classroom or laboratory at this or any level should be familiar with and inform their students of basic animal care and use laws and guidelines with a brief explanation of their value. The SSR supports the use of biological specimens for anatomical or physiological study, provided that their procurement and use are in strict compliance with federal legislation, guidelines and policies of the National Institutes of Health, the US Department of Agriculture, and other such agencies as may be appropriate.

The SSR recognizes that the use of live animals in carefully designed and properly monitored laboratory exercises is an indispensable part of training in certain programs of higher education. Knowledge, experience and insights gained through the responsible use of live animals in the classroom and laboratory are unique, invaluable and irreplaceable elements of a quality education in many basic and clinical disciplines.

In all situations where animal use is envisioned, the SSR advocates both the careful consideration of alternatives, and the highest standards of husbandry and care when animals must be used. In considering alternatives in the design of educational experiences involving animals, the SSR advocates principles embodied by the 3 R’s (replacement, reduction, refinement). Therefore, educators should consider alternative methods that might serve as effective replacements of sentient animal models, adopt practices that will reduce the number of animals needed for effective educational experiences, and refine techniques in order to minimize or eliminate pain, distress or discomfort in animals that must be used. This includes the judicious use of sedation, analgesia, or anesthesia when appropriate. At institutions of higher education, it is expected that all procedures involving vertebrate animal use will be reviewed and approved by an appropriately appointed institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC), and that provision will be made for the training of all personnel involved in the care and use of animals.

Prepared by Drs. Chris Price, Frank F. Bartol and the 1999𡀓2000 SSR Animal Care & Experimentation Committee

Approved by SSR Board of Directors, 2000 Summer Meeting, Dr. John Eppig, President

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Position Statement: Use of Animals in Research

April 22, 2021

The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery recognizes the use of animals in research has enabled many of the medical and surgical treatments now available to the field of otolaryngology and surgery of the head and neck. The AAO-HNS support the judicious and appropriate use of animals in research for the advancement of medical knowledge and the development of novel surgical and medical interventions.

The AAO-HNS support for the use of animals in research is predicated on the humane and ethical treatment of the animals. The AAO-HNS stresses adherence to all appropriate federal, state, local, and institutional laws and guidelines that regulate the use of animals in research. Studies employing animals should undergo institutional review and institutions are encouraged to seek certification from a qualified accrediting association.

The AAO HNS recognizes replacing all animal utilization is not feasible while continuing to develop advanced therapies for the most complex disorders of the Head and Neck. When possible, simulation technology, in vitro techniques, and detailed review of available literature should be utilized to reduce the number of animals impacted, optimize the overall investigation, and when possible replace animal usage.

Important Disclaimer Notice (Updated 7/31/14)

Position statements are approved by the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery or Foundation (AAO-HNS/F) Boards of Directors and are typically generated from AAO-HNS/F committees. Once approved by the Academy or Foundation Board of Directors, they become official position statements and are added to the existing position statement library. In no sense do they represent a standard of care. The applicability of position statements, as guidance for a procedure, must be determined by the responsible physician in light of all the circumstances presented by the individual patient. Adherence to these clinical position statements will not ensure successful treatment in every situation. As with all AAO-HNS/F guidance, this position statement should not be deemed inclusive of all proper treatment decisions or methods of care, nor exclusive of other treatment decisions or methods of care reasonably directed to obtaining the same results. Position statements are not intended to and should not be treated as legal, medical, or business advice.

Position Statement: Vaccination Status and Obligation to Provide Care

Background The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to reverberate. They may disproportionately impact the practice of otolaryngology given…

Position Statement: Tongue Based Procedures

Genioglossus advancement and hyoid myotomy/suspension, whether performed separately or combined, are considered effective and non-investigational with proven c…

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UAR Oceania position statement on the use of animals in research

Understanding Animal Research Oceania (UAR Oceania) supports the humane use of animals in biomedical research, and believes that animal research is a vital part of the scientific process. For over 150 years research using animals has advanced scientific understanding of human and animal health and the impact of the environment on wildlife. This research should never be undertaken lightly and animals should only be used when there is no alternative method available.

UAR Oceania is committed to the 3Rs of reduction, replacement and refinement as basic principles of humane animal research, and expects our members to actively employ these to improve animal welfare. This means that animals should be replaced with non-animal research methods wherever possible, that the minimum number of animals needed to give meaningful results should be used, and that research methods should aim to both improve the quality of the data obtained and reduce suffering wherever possible.

Openness and transparency around the use of animals in research is important if we are to have honest conversations about the benefits, harms and limitations of animal research. UAR Oceania aims to explain our positions and values clearly, and encourage the life-science sector to be clear about how, when and why animals are used in research. We work with the life-sciences community across Oceania to support and provide resource to underpin ANZCCART's Openness agreements in both New Zealand and Australia, driving a culture of greater openness on this issue. We strive to ensure that the scientific community is not at risk of, and does not feel at risk of, harassment or assault because of their association with animal research.

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position statement on the use of animals in research

Position Statements

Nabt position statements are regularly updated after adoption and approved by the nabt board of directors. to learn more about this process or to suggest future statements, please contact nabt., the use of animals in biology education.

High quality life science education requires students to be immersed in the study of life and living systems. Educators and schools across the education spectrum should develop programs, policies, and procedures that give students the broadest opportunity to learn the life sciences through field and laboratory experiences that incorporate living and formerly living organisms. NABT strongly supports teaching which allows for student interaction with organisms, both living and dead, that provides enriched, meaningful learning experiences. The involvement of students in first-hand interactions with living animals provides opportunities for increased understanding of content knowledge, the care of living organisms, and appreciation for the value of life. In like manner, the engagement of students in well-crafted dissections is a total sensory experience that removes abstraction as students learn about structure, function, adaptation, and diversity. While the increased quality and accessibility of dissection simulation software has helped address concerns from students and parents opposed to dissection, these alternatives are not without limitations. Utilizing a software-only approach may constitute a disservice to many students and does not acknowledge the well-documented educational benefits of hands-on dissection. Simultaneously, teachers must be sensitive to the beliefs of each student and their right to make informed decisions concerning participation in dissection and, if possible, provide meaningful alternatives in keeping with course goals and objectives. Teachers are the primary role model of respect for living and preserved specimens used in the classroom and for the conservation of organisms both in the classroom and in the field. As such, whenever utilizing organisms for instructional programming, they must employ their expertise to design and execute well-crafted lessons. Teachers have the responsibility to develop and maintain their training on the care and maintenance of living organisms. Likewise, educational institutions have the responsibility to ensure facilities, policies, and procedures are in place for the proper handling of living and non-living organisms. This includes understanding and complying with federal, state, and local laws regarding animal welfare and the use of biological materials, and knowing and utilizing established professional standards and guidelines as applicable. Professional guidelines may include, but are not limited to:

Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals from the National Research Council
Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals from the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) of the National Institutes of Health
Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Animals in Precollege Education from the Institute of Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR)
Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in the Care and Use of Animal s from the American Psychological Association (APA)

The proper and ethical use of animals in science classrooms must always be matched to the stated standards and objectives for the course, the age and previous experiences of the intended student audience, and the expected educational outcomes. It is, therefore, the professional science educators in the classroom and in their professional learning community who are in the best position to make the determination for the use of animals in life science classes. As an organization of professional educators representing classroom teachers as well as professional scientists and education researchers, NABT urges state, provincial, and local school systems to enact and maintain policies concerning animals and other biological materials that allow students the opportunity to learn through the processes and practices of science utilizing all tools and methodologies available to them.

Revised and adopted by the NABT Board of Directors, July 2019. This position supersedes and replaces all previous NABT statements regarding the use of animals in biology education.

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What Animal Studies Are Revealing About Their Minds—and Ours

N ever underestimate the mind of a crow. Members of a family of birds that includes ravens, rooks, magpies, and jays, crows have been known to bend wire into hooks to retrieve food; drop nuts in a road so passing cars will crack them open; and recognize humans who have posed a threat, harassing them on-sight even months after their first encounter. But some of the smartest crows of all may be found in the animal physiology lab at the University of Tübingen in Germany. It’s there that the birds are mastering a skill you couldn’t manage until you were up to 4 years old: counting.

In a new study published in Science , researchers trained three crows to emit one to four caws in response to seeing the numbers 1, 2, 3, or 4 projected on a screen. The birds also learned to count out the proper number of vocalizations when cued by sounds, with a guitar chord eliciting a single caw, a cash register eliciting two, a drum roll signaling three, and a frequency sweep calling for four. In doing so, the birds matched or beat the numeracy skills of human children who often don’t master rudimentary counting until kindergarten.

Says animal physiologist and study co-author Andreas Nieder : “When faced with a set of three objects and asked, ‘How many?’ toddlers recite the speech sounds ‘one, two, three’ or even ‘one, one, one.’ We show that crows have the ability to count vocally [too].”

And crows aren’t the only creatures that understand simple math. Similar skills have been observed in studies of comparatively intelligent animals including gorillas, dolphins, elephants, the rhesus macaque, and the squirrel and capuchin monkeys. Even the less-clever rat can fathom basic arithmetic, with a recent study in Science Advances showing that the animals can be trained to hear two or three tones and then press a button corresponding to one number or the other. The learning didn’t come easy: It took two months for the rats to make that distinction, but it was the fact that they could do it at all—not that they were slow on the uptake—that was the true news.

The last few months alone have been something of a boom time for research into the intelligence and behavior of animals. German researchers discovered a sort of pre-verbal stage in finches —similar to the babbling stage in humans—that leads to their becoming fluent in song. Studies in Sweden and Vienna explored the role of play among barnyard chicks and a species of falcon. French researchers studied advanced use of sticks as tools in chimps , and other work in the U.S. made similar findings among otters . And perhaps most remarkably, researchers in Indonesia published a study about a wild orangutan, nicknamed Rakus by the scientists, that was observed chewing the leaves of a plant with known medicinal and analgesic properties and applying the resulting pulp to a wound on its face.

“It may be that Rakus learned this behavior from other animals in his birth area,” says lead author and animal behaviorist Isabelle Laumer of the Max Planck Institute in Germany. It is also possible that he came upon the discovery on his own, she says, accidentally applying the plant juice to himself by touching his wound while feeding on the leaves. “Rakus may have felt immediate pain release, causing him to repeat the behavior several times and subsequently apply solid plant matter,” adds Laumer.

All of these studies and more have implications not just for our understanding of animals, but for our understanding of ourselves, as creatures with often-similar brain structures. In one European study , researchers pinpointed twin regions in the human brain that allow us to recognize emotions in other people’s faces, and found corresponding regions in the brains of mice, raising the possibility that one of our most sophisticated traits—our ability to read the minds and moods of others—might be distributed throughout the animal kingdom.

“These evolutionarily conserved mechanisms should be common in most mammals,” says Francesco Papaleo, senior researcher at the Instituto Italiano de Tecnologia in Genoa, Italy, and a co-author of the study. “Properly recognizing and appropriately responding to altered emotions in others is essential for survival.”

The play is the thing

Of all of the recent research, it is the studies that explore play that illustrate the most engagingly ingenuous side of animals. Domestic chickens may be nobody’s idea of a personable species, but a May study in Frontiers of Ethology observed extensive play behavior in young hatchlings, especially males. Investigators raised the chicks in relatively spartan cages and then periodically transferred them to playpen areas with other chicks, aged from 6 to 53 days. In the presence of the rest of the flock, the males engaged in a wide range of play behaviors—all in sight of females—including frolicking, wing-flapping, jumping, and sparring. When the researchers introduced a rubber worm into the pens, the nearest male would pick it up and scurry around with it. Known in the wild as worm-running or tidbitting, the behavior, which can involve other forms of food as well, is an apparent display for the benefit of the females—a means of impressing them with the male’s resource-gathering skills.

“We still don’t know the adaptive function of play for any species,” said Per Jensen, professor of ethology at Linköping University in Sweden and a co-author of the study, in a statement. “However the present study indicates that a possible function is to prepare animals for specific challenges they may encounter later in life. In a species like the chicken, where only males compete for territories, it makes sense that they engage in more social play as young.”

Falcons display similar behavior for equally practical reasons. A February study in the Journal of Raptor Research documented the Falkland Islands species known as Striated Caracaras routinely engaging in play with sheets of plastic, sea cabbage, stones, and even sheep dung. To qualify as play, animal and human behavior has to meet several criteria, including being voluntary and repeatedly performed, appearing intrinsically rewarding, and lacking apparent purpose. But appearances notwithstanding, there may be decidedly practical functions to play.

In the case of the falcons, which live in a place in which food resources are more available in some seasons than in others, playing with objects might reveal an unexpected nutrient source. “The more caracaras interact with the world around them, the more opportunities they have to learn what is food and what isn’t,” said study co-author and behavioral ecologist Katie Harrington, of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, in a statement.

Animals, including homo sapiens, also play to practice combat, hunting, mating, and territorial claims, all of which are needed later in life. “That we see play in so many different species—including humans—tells us that it’s a really important component of our behavioral repertoire,” adds Harrington in an email to TIME. “We tend to see age differences, where younger individuals play more than older individuals. Studying the diversity of play can help us learn how and why it developed to be so important.”

The canine mind

Far and away the most studied animal mind in the world may belong to the domestic dog, if only because, with 471 million pet dogs worldwide, every home becomes something of a real-time, real-world behavioral lab. Still, it is the formal, peer-reviewed research that produces the most rigorous findings, and there is no shortage of that work. In one May study published in Animal Behaviour , investigators from the University of Helsinki subjected 987 dogs to various tests of behavior and problem-solving skills, looking for the traits such as impulsiveness, persistence, independence, and willingness to turn to humans for assistance, which help dogs function better either as working animals, domestic animals, or both.

In one test , the dogs were shown a short, clear cylinder containing a treat that was accessible only by an opening at either end of the container rather than through its transparent but impenetrable middle. The fewer times a subject dog mouthed the closed part of the cylinder before turning to the open end, the higher it scored. Another, similar test placed a treat behind a clear, V-shaped wall that required the dog to detour around the barrier, rather than simply bumping up against it in an attempt to get at the reward. A third test placed a treat inside a clear, locked box that was impossible for the dog to open—measuring how persistent the animal would be before giving up and turning to a human for help. A little persistence is considered good. Too much suggests a lack of learning curve.

Rohan looks on as her owner Paula Perez holds a ball during a test at the Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest

On the whole, says Saara Junttila, doctoral researcher with the university’s faculty of veterinary medicine and lead author of the paper, dogs with lower inhibitory control were good problem solvers and excelled in working roles and in canine sports, but were less tractable and trainable in the home.

“As an example, the Belgian shepherd Malinois was one of the fastest breeds at solving the V-detour task, and this breed spent a lot of time trying to solve a problem independently rather than looking at a human. [But it] is considered to be a more challenging breed [to train],” Juntilla says. “Other breeds such as the golden retriever may be more suitable for the role of pet dog, as they turn to humans during a problem-solving situation and have higher inhibitory control.”

The findings have implications not just for canine behavior but for humans, too. Some researchers have found parallels between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in people and similar distractibility and impulsiveness in dogs.

“Our results do seem to indicate that ADHD-type traits occur together,” says Junttila. “We found that dogs with low inhibitory control were more impulsive, less trainable, and had higher activity levels. People with ADHD [also] often have lower inhibitory control, impaired academic success, and higher impulsivity and hyperactivity.”

Dogs and people overlap in other ways, too. In one recent study published in Biologia Futura , investigators found that dogs that had been trained to imitate human behavior—such as turning or sitting or nodding their heads—do not need the cues to be delivered only in person, but could also obey them when simply seeing an image of a person on a computer screen. The dogs were better at imitating behavior when they saw the human from a perspective with which they were familiar—from the front or the side, for example, as opposed to from above. But either way, the investigators saw significance in the ability of the animals to make the leap that a two-dimensional image was effectively equivalent to a three-dimensional person.

Says lead author Claudia Fugazza, professor of ethology at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest: “In general, dogs seem to be able…to extract the relevant information from 2D projections and use it to act appropriately in the 3D, real life context.” The findings have meaning that go beyond canine parlor tricks, opening up the possibility of virtual human-dog communications, serving to entertain the animals and provide emotional support to human companions.

Tooling about

The ability to use even simple tools was once seen as a talent limited to humans. Research has long since upended that belief, with studies showing a range of tool use among animals, including orangutans , which create whistles out of leaves to chase away predators; dolphins , which use marine sponges to scour the seafloor and stir up prey; and even the degus , a chinchilla-like rodent, which can be taught to use small rakes to look for food. New research is now turning up insights into the talents of one of nature’s most prodigious tool-users—the otter—with findings suggesting that the female of the species outperforms the male in this sophisticated skill.

The otters’ most common tool is a rock, which the animals use to crack open abalone shells to get to the tender meat inside. In a new study in Science , researchers from the University of Texas, Austin, and elsewhere observed 196 radio-tagged sea otters off the coast of California and discovered that the animals were using other tools as well—including shells and hard trash—to break open their prey. Females generally employed a wider array of tools than males did, an innovation they arrived at by necessity, as their smaller size and somewhat weaker jaws make cracking or biting open prey harder. Not only does more sophisticated tool use spare them tooth damage that they might otherwise sustain by trying to bite prey, it also provides them greater energy needed to raise and feed pups.

Chimps too are even better at tool use than commonly understood. The animals are most famously known for their ability to use twigs stripped of leaves to fish into small openings in logs and extract termites as food. New research in PLOS Biology found that this is not a static talent, but rather one that the animals improve throughout their lives, learning to fish for the insects by age 2 or so, and steadily improving their grip and eye-hand coordination over the years.

“The most efficient grips and actions to hold and manipulate stick tools continue to develop at least until [age] 15 [and] well into adulthood,” says lead author Mathieu Malherbe, primatologist with the Max Planck Institute in Germany.

This means war

Not every new trait animals exhibit is a noble one—a fact that is borne out by a recent study of bonobos. Colloquially known as the hippie chimp, for their generally peaceable ways and their matriarchal social structure, the great ape species turns out to be a lot more aggressive than thought, at least when it comes to male-on-male violence. Writing in the journal Current Biology , researchers from Harvard University found that male bonobos actually engage in three times the amount of mano-a-mano combat than their more warlike cousin, the chimpanzee. But the reason for the difference is paradoxical.

On the whole, chimps are significantly more violent as a group than bonobos, with bands of males engaging in sometimes mortal combat with other bands over access to food, territory, and females. This makes it essential that bonds within each tribe remain close—ensuring that the group presents the most united front when facing other tribes. Bonobos, which do not engage in organized warfare, can afford more squabbling and friction within the group without making themselves vulnerable to outsiders.

“The most likely causes of male aggression [among bonobos] are over who gets to stay in a feeding tree or at a good feeding spot,” says Martin Surbeck, assistant professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard and a co-author of the study. “Chimpanzees depend on each other and thus have a lot of incentive not to make a fuss out of each potential conflict, while the individualistic nature of bonobo society makes aggression just way less costly and more frequent.”

The lovable scavenger

If the Striated Caracaras falcon is known for play, its cousin, the Chimango Caracaras, is developing a reputation for domestic bliss. In another study in the Journal of Raptor Research, investigators found elaborate co-parenting behavior between male and female pair-bonded birds. Among most species of raptors, the larger female incubates the eggs and defends the nest while the smaller male hunts for prey. Male and female Chimango Caracaras, however, which are scavengers, show little difference in size, and thus share responsibilities for gathering food as well as caring for the young.

A team led by PhD candidate Diego Gallego-Garcia of the Center for the Study and Conservation of Birds of Prey in Argentina studied 70 of the species’ nests and observed incubation, brooding, and food delivery responsibilities being evenly shared by both parents. The male and female alike also showed an understanding of the chicks’ needs throughout the day—brooding them more in the morning when temperatures were lower, for example. It is the species least lovely trait—its carrion diet—that contributes most to such an egalitarian household.

In raptors that kill live animals, says Gallego-Garcia, smaller males bring prey to the nest, but do not feed the chicks, relying on the larger female to “chunk the food” into bite-sized pieces. This, he says, “ties the female to the nest and prevents it from leaving to hunt. However in scavenger species, since carrion is usually brought as pieces of raw meat, it is more manageable for nestlings. This way the female is free to leave the nest and hunt, allowing for the biparental care that we observe.”

The balanced home is an animal grace note—one of a great many across both the human and the non-human world. “The case of the Chimango Caracara is rare among raptors, but is a general rule in most other birds, and not uncommon in mammals,” says Gallego-Garcia. “This reinforces the idea that, in these cases, both members of the couple are necessary for the successful rearing of the offspring.” As it goes in animals, so it goes in us.

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Statement of the Royal Society’s position on the use of animals in research

The Royal Society believes that all research should be carried out with a high regard for animal welfare. At present the use of animals remains the only way for some areas of research to progress. The Society believes that where this research offers considerable benefits, it should go ahead under rigorous review to ensure it is absolutely necessary and there are no alternatives. At the same time steps must be taken to replace the use of animals, reduce the numbers used and refine procedures so the degree of suffering for animals is kept to the absolute minimum (the 3Rs).

Funding research that uses animals

The Society requires that the research it supports in the UK must comply with UK legislation and endorses the principle of the 3Rs (replace, refine and reduce). Researchers in receipt of Society funding report annually on their work, including their use of animals.

Animal research in the UK is regulated by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 which was updated in 2013. Everyone conducting animal research, as well as the facilities and the projects that they work on, must be licensed to do so. As part of the licensing procedures, research on animals is subjected to rigorous independent review in order to ensure that the use of animals is absolutely necessary and there are no alternatives. This review also considers whether any steps can be taken to replace, refine or reduce the number of animals used.

Find out more about UK regulation or licensing procedures on the Home Office website

International research supported by the Society must, as a minimum standard, be carried out in accordance with the principles of UK legislation as well as complying with all local legislation and ethical review procedures. Read the full policy .

The Society has over 20 award schemes for researchers , some of which may involve research with animals. The number of grants awarded each year that involve animals are detailed in this downloadable table (XLS) . The proportion of grants awarded each year by the Society that involve the use of animals has grown over the past eleven years and has fluctuated around 10% for the past five years.

How the Royal Society ensures high standards in the research using animals that it funds

Implementation of the principles in the following guidance is a condition of receiving funds from the Royal Society:

Responsibility for the Use of Animals in Bioscience Research guidelines
NC3Rs Guidelines: Primate Accommodation, Care and Use documents produced by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research ( NC3Rs ).

These guidelines set out the expectations for the use of animals in research and is therefore also useful to ethics committees, referees and Panel/Committee/Board members involved in reviewing research proposals.

The Royal Society must be satisfied that:

The simplest possible, or least sentient, species of animal appropriate is used
Distress and pain are avoided wherever possible
Appropriate experimental design to ensure the minimum number of animals possible is used, consistent with ensuring that scientific objectives will be met
There are no feasible alternatives
All reasonable efforts have been made to address the principles (replace, reduce, refine) of the 3Rs
All proposals using animals should explain not only why the use of animals is necessary and the ethical implications of the planned experiments, but also clearly describe how the planned experimental design is appropriate to give robust results
All animal work will be done in strict compliance with local Animal Welfare Ethical Review Board (AWERB) committee requirements, sector standards and applicable law including, in the UK, the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
Welfare standards are consistent with the principles of UK legislation and that the guidance documents set out above are applied and maintained, even where the funded research is to be performed outside the UK
The research has been independently peer reviewed, and applications which propose the use of non-human primates (NHPs), cats, dogs or equines, which are specially protected species under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, are subject to additional peer review by the NC3Rs

How the Royal Society implements its policy

The Royal Society is committed to ensuring that our policy on animal research is implemented effectively to help reduce animal use in research, improve welfare standards, and due to the scientific benefits, ensure that appropriate models are used, and that experimental design is scientifically robust and reproducible.

This is achieved through the following mechanisms:

Applicants - applicants who submit an application proposing research involving the use of animals must provide detailed information to allow for appropriate review and assessment of the proposed research. Applicants are expected to detail how the number of animals to be used was decided, plans to minimise experimental bias, and provide information on statistical aspects of the study including statistical power and appropriate statistical analysis. Applicants are encouraged to use the NC3Rs Experimental Design Assistant when designing their experiments, and the ARRIVE guidelines for improving the reproducibility and reporting of research involving animals.
Peer review - all research involving the use of animals is rigorously assessed by appropriately qualified independent peer reviewers. All Panels and panel members, including independent peer reviewers are instructed to consider whether the principles of the 3Rs have been followed by the applicant in their response. Applications specifying the use of non-human primates (NHPs), cats, dogs or equines are subject to additional peer review by the NC3Rs with applicants expected to provide an adequate response to any concerns raised by the NC3Rs, which is shared with Panels members for consideration prior to making award recommendations. Issues raised by the NC3Rs may be included as a condition of funding.
Conditions of award - it is a condition of funding that the Host Organisation and the Award Holder must ensure that research involving the use of animals falls within the regulations laid down in the UK Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and subsequent amendments. Award holders using animals must implement and adhere to the principles detailed in the Responsibility in the Use of Animals in Bioscience Research guidelines , and where an uses non-human primates they must also comply with the NC3Rs guidelines on Primate Accommodation, Care and Use . Any element of research funded by the Award that is conducted outside the UK must, as a minimum standard, be conducted in accordance with the principles of UK legislation.
Improving standards - the Royal Society takes an active role in policy discussions on the use of animals in research. The Society is a member of the Society of Biology’s Animals in Science Group. This Group feeds into the UK Bioscience Sector Coalition which engages directly with the Home Office and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The Society endorses the work of the National Centre for the replacement, refinement and reduction of animals in research ( NC3Rs ). NC3Rs supports national and international efforts to improve conditions for laboratory animals and welcomes attempts to maintain and strengthen an ethical approach to the use of animals in research through discussion and debate.
Increasing transparency - the Royal Society is a signatory to the Concordat on Openness in Animal Research , and is working to fulfil the commitments of the Concordat as they apply to the Society. More information about the Concordat and the actions taken by other signatories can be found on the Understanding Animal Research website .

Publishing research findings

Papers published in the Society’s journals which involve work with animals must meet set conditions and will be accepted only if the procedures used are clearly described - we encourage all authors to comply with the Animal Research: Reporting in vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines - and conform to the legal requirements of the country in which the work was carried out and to all institutional guidelines.

In addition, referees are required to express any ethical concerns they may have about the animal experimentation under review. Papers will be accepted for publication only if they are considered to be ethically sound in the judgement of the editor. Read the full policy .

Royal Society publications on animal research

Response to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics consultation on the ethics of research involving animals (PDF) (December 2003)

The use of animals in research (June 2006)

The use of genetically modified animals (May 2001, ISBN 0 85403 556 7)

Read our 2015 statement on animal research , or our 2006 statement .

For further information please contact [email protected] .

Page last updated: 24 May 2023

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Revised and adopted by the NABT Board of Directors, July 2019. This position supersedes and replaces all previous NABT statements regarding the use of animals in biology education.

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Statement of the Royal Society’s position on the use of animals in research

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