Other Resources
Please scroll down to view our many different resource topics or simply click on the links below to be immediately taken to a specific area:
Groups Supporting Animal Research
Regulations and Government
News and Discussion Boards
Science Community and Patient Groups
For Younger Audiences
Benefits to Animals
Groups Supporting Animal Research
Foundation for Biomedical Research
FBR has a massive amount of information available on the use of animals in biomedical research. Includes factsheets, FAQ, regulatory information and perspectives from scientists, religious leaders, government and opponents. Can purchase educational materials here, including posters, books and videos. A report and spreadsheet listing all known crimes committed since 1981 in the name of "animal rights" can be found here.
National Association for Biomedical Research
The sister organization to FBR, the above educational organization, NABR engages in biomedical research advocacy on a national level. Although much of the site is for members only, there is a discussion of some of the issues involved in animal research.
States United for Biomedical Research
Not only does this site contain information on how different animals have contributed to medical knowledge, but it is a gateway to the state biomedical research advocacy groups. The state groups have a wide array of educational materials on the benefits of animal research, activities for students and educators and discussions of local issues.
Americans for Medical Progress
This site provides continuously updated news stories on progress and discovery in biomedicine through the use of animal research, as well as information and statements from opponents and supporters of animal research.
Foundation for Animal Use Education
A great educational resource - explains the issues regarding animal use in a variety of settings, but emphasizes biomedical research. Lists a number of medical benefits resulting from animal research and has a remarkable
Coalition for Animals and Animal Research
The CFAAR groups are organized locally in many regions whose mission is to educate the public about the use of animals in research (the link is to the Arizona chapters home page.) CFAAR members have published a number of informative online articles including The Trojan Horse of Animal Protectionism and Animal Research: The Comparative Psychologist's Perspective.
Research Defense Society
A European advocacy organization, the RDS' web site offers factsheets on animal research, a timeline of medical milestones reached via animal research and a forum for debate and discussion of this topic. Also has updated news stories and downloadable animal images.
Biomedical Research Education Trust
An organization based in the UK, the mission of BRET is to provide information about the humane and responsible use of animals in research. They have an excellent section on the necessity of animal research throughout the history of medicine, giving detailed and very readable information on how animal research has impacted treatments of specific diseases. There is also a lot of data on the number of animals used for biomedical research, as compared with those used for food, destroyed in shelters, etc. and a good discussion of alternatives to animal research, in terms of why they're not always available.
Laboratory Animals: Regulations, Information and Government Agencies
What are the laws and regulations governing the use of animals in research? Who enforces them and trains people in the humane care of laboratory animals?
Use of Animal Models in Biomedical Research: Challenges and Opportunities
This presentation, given by Dr. Norka Ruiz Bravo, Deputy Director for Extramural Research, National Institutes of Health (NIH) to the Federal Demonstration Partnership, conveys the NIH perspective on the use of animal models in research and the regulations ensuring their humane care and treatment. It also discussed the challenges to the use of animal models faced by the biomedical research community.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
A branch of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), APHIS is the agency in charge of administering the Animal Welfare Act, which regulates animal care. This site links to a great deal of information on laws and regulations regarding animal welfare, as well as government reports on the subject.
National Institute of Health - Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)
While some species of laboratory animal are not protected under the Animal Welfare Act, the majority of these lab animals are covered by the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. OLAW's web site outlines NIH's regulations and policies on the use of animals in research and provides researchers information on where to get training to work with or serve on Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC.)
Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR)
The Institute for Laboratory Animal Research is under the auspices of the National Academies of Science. They prepare authoritative reports and educational materials on the care and use of animals in research. ILAR's Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals has become the standard for lab animal care. ILAR's web site contains links to their journal, which covers the latest research on lab animal welfare, as well as copies of their other publications.
American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS)
An excellent resource for researchers working with, or wishing to educate others, about animal research. Information on this site includes certification programs and professional development activities for individuals who work with lab animals, conference information, and educational information about lab animal research. There are downloadable publications about the importance of animals in biomedical research.
Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC)
AAALAC promotes humane treatment of lab animals through a voluntary accreditation program. The site includes information on what accreditation entails, how to apply, what institutes have been accredited and international resources. Also a good source of information on humane animal care and use.
American College of Laboratory Medicine (ACLAM)
ACLAM offers certification of lab animal professionals - their site contains information on certification and professional development materials for animal research personnel.
Scientists Center for Animal Welfare (SCAW)
The primary purpose of this site is to educate scientists and educators about the best practices for lab animal care. It includes information on IACUC training, changes in regulations regarding animal care and provides a forum to exchange scientific information regarding lab animal welfare.
IACUC.org
This site is a wonderful resource for Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees, as well as those who wish to learn more about how IACUCs work. Mainly consists of organized links to information on regulations, guidelines, databases and other resources.
Federal Regulations for Animal Research
A short overview of how federal regulations for animal research affect experimental design and the IACUC process. From the Online Ethics Center for Engineering and Science at Case Western University.
Respect for Life
This publication was developed by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences at the National Institutes of Health. It begins with the question Why Animal Research? and explains the importance of animal research and how scientists ensure the humane treatment of animals. A good overview of the process involved in conducting research using animals at NIEHS.
News and Discussion Boards
Get the latest news and debate on issues regarding animal research.
NABR Launches Animal Law Web Site
NABR is very pleased to announce the launch of our new Web site, the NABR Animal Law Web Site. Animal activists and animal rights lawyers have stepped up the campaign to change existing laws as they relate to animals. This campaign involves legislative initiatives at the state and federal level and the establishment of new common law through the courts. These initiatives have the potential to profoundly affect animal research. NABR believes the biomedical research community should better understand existing laws affecting animals as well as the many new legal challenges and theories advocated by animal rights lawyers and activists.
AnimalRights.Net
Although the primary goal of this site, as stated on its home page, is to "debunk the animal rights movement", it does provide both up-to-date news on discoveries made via animal research and provides a discussion forum for debate and discourse on animal research.
The Importance of Animal Research to Medical Discovery
An excellent series of questions and answers about the necessity of animal research, prepared by Michael Dabney of UCSD. Contains a wonderful quote by Former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Koop. This document is a .pdf and needs Adobe Acrobat Reader to be viewed.
A Scientist's Defense
From the online journal Spiked, this is a thoughtful missive on the necessity of animal research for medical progress. Includes an excellent historical perspective and lots of specific and detailed analysis on how animal research has aided developments of vaccines, treatment of disease and surgical advancements.
Animal Research is for Human Welfare
An editorial from The Scientist on the growing opposition to animal research and explaining why it was still necessary. Site requires free registration.
Animals & Research A 5 part series from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Topics include:
Part 1: Unlocking the secrets of genetic disease through animal research
Part 2: Improving medical treatments for animals
Part 3: Animals are key to discovering new medicines
Part 4: The ethics of using animals in research
Part 5: How research animals live
Myths About Animal Research
There's a lot of false information out there, propogated by a variety of organizations, claiming that animal research benefits no one. This site debunks some of the most common misperceptions, compiling information from a variety of sources.
“Ecoterrorism: Extremism in the Animal Rights & Enviromentalist Movements”
Anti-Defamation League report. An excellent overview of the history and current activities of the major groups involved, including ALF, ELF and SHAC, as well as some of the individuals associated with these groups. The report is designed to be a resource for law enforcement officials. There is an update section, which will be periodically updated with the most recent reports of activities of these groups.
Scientific Community and Patient Groups
Explore the perspective of those who work with and benefit from animal research.
American Physiological Society
The APS site highlights the latest news on issues and regulations regarding animal research, useful for both scientists and the public. Also includes a link to an excellent, downloadable publication, called Questions People Ask About Animals in Research. APS also published a peer-reviewed Resource Book for the Design of Animal Exercise Protocols available online here.
American Psychological Association
A cogent explanation on why animals are important in psychological research. Also included are the APA's guidelines for ethical conduct in the care and use of animals in research.
Society of Toxicology
The SOT's animals in research committee's activities and policy statements are available here.
Society for Neuroscience policy on the ethical use of animal and human subjects in research.
Seriously Ill for Medical Research
A group of patient advocates, SIMR is based in the UK and provides a number of factsheets on the benefits of animal research.
Incurably Ill for Animal Research
This patient advocacy group's site discusses animal research from the patient's point of view, through first person narratives of real people suffering from disease. There is a discussion of the major issues and answers regarding animal research in a very user-friendly format.
Glaxo Smith Kline
The pharmaceutical perspective on animal research. This site includes GSK's policies on the humane use of animals in research, as well as rational discussions of the importance of animal research and the concept of Reduction, Replacement and Refinement.
Ads About Animal Research and Paralysis Are Misleading: As described in this release by the Center for Consumer Freedom, the animal rights group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) is running a series of ads claiming neuroscientists do not support the use of animals in paralysis research. According to the American Associate of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), this is a total misrepresentation of neurosurgery's position in this area. An AANS statement in support of animal research may be found here.
For Younger Audiences
Have fun and learn something new!
The Importance of Being a Mouse
This illustrated story about a mother and daughter explains why lab mice are so important to research, and encourages youth to think about how other animals are helpful to society.
Kids 4 Research
This fun and educational site provides information about science and research in general, aimed at K-12 students, and includes a section on animal research. There are games, art activities and learning tools, as well as sections for parents and teachers. Enjoyable and valuable information for kids of all ages.
Animal Puzzler
A weekly puzzler brought to you by AAALAC - learn wacky facts about animals!
OSERA Kids
A service of the Ohio Scientific Education & Research Association, at this site you can be a Super Scientist and explore the human body or take an Awesome Adventure to the zoo or outer space.
Biologists Discover AMAZING Things
An internet poster and educational items showing how the most unexpected animal models can contribute to human medicine. What do armadillos have to do with leprosy? Did you know about poisonous snakes and blood pressure?
BioRap
Information on scientific research and medicine, for curious students and their teachers. Covers everything from aging to genetics to product testing. Find out how animal research has helped in the fight against AIDS.
Benefits of Animal Research to Animals
Research using animals is not just helping humans.
Survivors: Animal Research Saves Animals
A new initiative of the Foundation for Biomedical Research, this site provides information on how animal research has benefited progress in veterinary medicine using stories of real life pet survivors who have overcome illness of injury thanks to animal research. Includes free downloadable screen saver, information for veterinarians and numerous fact sheet on animal research and animal medicine.
What Investigators Need to Know About the Use of Animals
This site provides a succinct resource for investigators to quickly grasp the main expectations and requirements when using animals in research supported by the Public Health Service.