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Definition of Pain and Distress and Reporting Requirements for Laboratory Animals Proceedings of the Workshop Held June 22, 2000 (2000) / Chapter Skim
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Use of Laboratory Animals in the Postgenome Era
Pages 82-86

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From page 82...
... PREDICTABLE TRENDS IN RESEARCH Consider with me how completion of genome sequencing in humans and numerous model species will likely change biomedical research over the next 20 years, a time frame I will refer to as postgenome medicine. Systems Biology I assert that we will see the ascendancy of what I would call systems biology.
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From page 83...
... As a corollary, however, I also believe that it is unrealistic to have as a foreseeable goal the elimination of pain and distress in experimental animal models that replicate or mimic human diseases. I submit that as long as we can develop animal models by genetic manipulation and gain novel insights into cures, preventions, and treatments of diseases, we should focus on the management rather than the elimination of pain and distress.
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From page 84...
... of the "hassle factors" that promote investigator cynicism and reluctant cooperation, would also contribute significantly to realization of our shared goal of minimizing pain and distress. Replication of Human Diseases Nevertheless, I want to reemphasize that just as human disease inherently involves pain and distress, it will not be possible to eliminate these conditions in
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From page 85...
... " "Did the animal utilized in this study experience moderate or severe pain or "If so, could we have down-categorized an otherwise painful procedure by choosing an earlier experimental endpoint? " Obviously, earlier experimental endpoints might be as effective as interventions with drugs.
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From page 86...
... I believe we are illserved when checklists and clipboards replace good judgment. However, having some community consensus regarding certain procedures would ensure that appropriate corrective measures would be taken if an inspector found substantial discordance from this consensus in a particular institution's categories of procedures or protocols.
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Key Terms

  • animal models
  • human diseases
  • minimize pain
  • human disease
  • experimental endpoints

  • veterinary medicine
  • distress relief
  • veterinary staff
  • serves animals
  • molecular laboratory

  • earlier experimental
  • molecular technologies
  • qualitatively minimizing
  • particularly dramatic
  • gene knockout

  • dramatic increase
  • numerous model
  • exclude schools
  • experimental animals
  • explicitly exclude

  • global assessment
  • community consensus
  • humane care
  • checklist mentality
  • inherently involves

  • society categorization
  • model species
  • reluctant cooperation
  • encouraging checklist
  • corrective measures


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