Research Animal Welfare & Scientific Integrity:

An AAALAC International Perspective

John F. Bradfield, DVM, PhD, DACLAM

Senior Director, AAALAC International

Agenda

Welfare and Science Review AAALAC trend data Common challenges

Why Animal Welfare in Science Matters

Ethical Imperative Society Veterinarians

Scientific Integrity Healthy, well-cared for animals + properly

designed studies = better science

Welfare and Scientific Integrity

Animals with subclinical disease…. Post-procedural pain relief…. Prompt veterinary care….. Appropriate environment….

Space - pens/ cages Social housing Enrichment Husbandry Illumination HVAC function

AAALAC Mission

……enhances the quality of research, teaching, and testing by promoting humane, responsible animal care and use…..

Accreditation Voluntary Confidential Peer-review Site visit every 3 years

Number of Accredited Programs

19931994199519961997199819992000200120012003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015

500550600650700750800850900950

1000

Accredited Institutions in 41 Countries/ Regions

North America 74%Europe 9%

Latin America/ Caribbean ~1%

Africa .3%

Middle East .3%

Pacific Rim 15%

Demographics - proportion of accredited units by industry sector

Findings - Trends

671 site visits 4815 findings –

described at the exit briefing….

Two Categories of Findings….

Mandatory – a deficiency that must be corrected in order to maintain (or attain) full accreditation

Suggestion for Improvement (SFI) – a deficiency that if corrected would improve the program, but correction is not essential to maintaining full accreditation status

Analysis of Findings

26%

22%18%

14%

10% 10%

Animal Environment

OHS

IACUC

Veterinary Care

Physical Plant

Institutional Admin-istration

IACUC-Related Findings

Committee Composition/ Partic-ipation

Oversight/ PAM

Program Review/ Facilities Inspections

Protocol review process

Policies

Protocol Review Considerations

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Mandatory

SFI

Protocol Review

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Mandatory

SFI

Vet Care Findings

Procurement

Transportation

Preventive medicine/biosecurity

Surgery & post op

Pain & distress

Euthanasia

Veterinary Medical Care

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Mandatory

SFI

Clinical care……………………………41%Drug use/ storage………………….34%Vet authority/ qualifications….11%

Procedures….71%

Analgesia/anesthetic use…..89%

Animal Environment - Findings

Macroenvironment

Microenvironment

Sanitation

Husbandry

Behavioral/ Social Management

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Mandatory SFI

Social housing……93%

Food/ water…………………..32%Husbandry procedures…..25%

Monitoring effectiveness……48%

Physical Plant - Facilities

HVAC Construction/ maintenance

Special facilites Power Design/ layout0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

HVAC report……………….25%Environ. monitoring……21%Temp./ hum. control…..20%Directional airflow……..18%

Occupational Health & Safety

Personnel protection

Workplace risk/ safety assessment

Individual risk assessment

Hazard usage Medical Service

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Mandatory

SFI

Analysis - Global Regions

Overall Mandatory issues – by Region

Region Prevalence North America…… 0.5 (1 in 2 site visits)

Europe…………… 0.86 (8 in 10 site visits)

Pacific Rim………. 1.13 (> 1 each site visit)

Veterinary Care Mandatory Issues

Region Prevalence North America…… 0.05 (1 in 20)

Europe…………… 0.08 (1 in 13)

Pacific Rim………. 0.22 (1 in 5)

Animal Environment - Mandatory Issues

Region Prevalence North America…… 0.08 (1 in 13)

Europe…………… 0.13 (1 in 8)

Pacific Rim………. 0.12 (1 in 8)

IACUC/OB - Mandatory Issues

Region Prevalence North America…… 0.09 (1 in 11)

Europe…………… 0.08 (1 in 13)

Pacific Rim………. 0.29 (1 in 3)

Physical Plant - Mandatory Issues

Region Prevalence North America…….0.10 (1 in 10)

Europe…………… 0.22 (1 in 5)

Pacific Rim………. 0.07 (1 in 14)

OHSP- Mandatory Issues

Region Prevalence North America…….0.12 (1 in 8)

Europe…………… 0.13 (1 in 8)

Pacific Rim………. 0.20 (1 in 5)

Summary

Common challenges include IACUC/ OB - protocol review/ policies

Vet care – vet medical care/ euth./ p/d

Animal env. – social management/ husbandry/ sanitation

Physical plant – HVAC!

OHS – personnel protection/ workplace risk assessment

Summary

Issues that impact animal welfare, impact scientific integrity: IACUC/OB review Social housing Pain and distress Injury, disease, subclinical disease Animal environment and husbandry

Advocate for the animal – Value the science