Animal Research

Abstract

The history of animal research begins in antiquity with Aristotle. The philosophical writings of René Descartes, who denied any mental life in animals, accelerated the growth of animal research. It is impossible to accurately estimate the number of animals used in research today because different countries differ in what they count. It is known that animal research is a multibillion-dollar industry.

Societal concern about the use of animals in research peaked in Britain in the 1870s leading to the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1876 governing research for the ensuing 100 years. In the USA, the creation of the National Institutes of Health after World War II led to legislation growing out of public fear that their pet animals would be stolen for research purposes. In the 1980s, also, British law and European Union directives pressed forward new legislation. Many other countries followed suit. Increasing costs of animal testing led to extending research activities to developing countries to save money, avoid strict regulatory environments, and escape close scrutiny by the public. However, the three goals guiding the creation of regulatory structures for animal testing – assuring a high-quality science environment, assuring the maximization of animal welfare, and assuring the public that animals are being treated properly – are very difficult to achieve across multiple cultures. The most plausible approach to creating uniform universal standards has been that developed by AAALAC International. AAALAC accredits laboratory animal facilities worldwide using the NIH Guide to the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals as a basis for accreditation. Currently, AAALAC numbers over 900 research institutions around the world as accredited.