CAAT Newsletter: Vol. 14, No. 3, Summer 1997

Alternatives Committee Established at Indiana

By Felicia Holden

In August 1996, Indiana University in Bloomington, established a committee to provide researchers and students with nonanimal alternatives to institutional animal use. This committee, referred to as the Indiana University Alternatives to Animal Use Committee (AAUC), will assist and complement Indiana University's Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) in its charge to ensure that alternatives are addressed during research.

The Animal Welfare Act mandates that prior to research, a scientist must submit a protocol (a description of research, the type of animal to be used and how many, how the animal will be used, and the amount of pain that the animal may experience) to the IACUC. It is the responsibility of the IACUC to determine that alternatives have been considered, the minimal number of animals will be used, steps will be taken to lessen or minimize pain and distress, and that the necessity and relevance of painful procedures are considered before approving an animal research protocol.

To ensure that these alternative searches are conducted and to lessen the workload of the IACUC and researchers, the information specialist of the AAUC at Indiana University will conduct the searches in Agricola, Medline and other databases. To further the search for nonanimal alternatives, the AAUC will encourage communication between experts in a particular field of study and discussion groups that permit the networking of scientists from around the world. Participation in workshops, conferences, and seminars that address advances in research animal use techniques, and the development of animal replacements will also be encouraged.

The AAUC will implement Russell and Burch's Three Rs of refinement, reduction and replacement as its guiding principles. Its focus will be on replacement of animals with valid, nonanimal alternatives, refinement of animal use techniques and methods to prevent, minimize or alleviate potential pain and distress, and reduction of animal numbers necessary to obtain statistically significant data.

The alternatives committee at Indiana University grew out of a dialogue between animal researchers and animal protectionists of the university and local community. The two groups participate in monthly round-table discussions to better understand each other's perspectives on animal research. The establishment of an alternatives committee was one of several requests made by animal advocates for phasing out animal research at Indiana University.

The university agreed to the establishment of the committee on a trial basis. After receiving approval, the summer months were utilized to prepare the committee for fall semester 1996. Currently, there is not an alternatives committee at the university level. There is a similar committee associated with Merck Research Laboratories in New Jersey, which was created by researcher Mary Lou James. James, as well as people from several other institutions, were instrumental in helping to establish the IU committee.

The committee draws its membership from the Indiana University and Bloomington communities. It contains individuals interested in animal protection issues and, similar to the IACUC, a representative from each of the major research areas on campus. The first meeting of the committee was held in August 1996. All members were excited about the creation of the committee and provided invaluable advice and insight. In the words of IU's dean Jeffrey Alberts, who was important to the creation of the committee:

"In an era when animal research issues are often polarized and dominated by rhetoric, I am proud of our efforts to explore different avenues of communication, teaching, and learning and support. The idea to try a broad-based committee that can help investigators identify alternatives to animals to answer their research questions is a promising new venue."

Members of the Alternatives Committee

Information Specialist
The information specialist will conduct the alternatives database searches in Agricola, Biosis, Medline, etc. This member will also be responsible for disseminating information including newsletter publications that relate to the latest in animal alternatives. Sources will include (but are not limited to) The Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC), and The Center for Animals and Public Policy of Tufts University, School of Veterinary Medicine. The information specialist will attend the free AWIC workshop that is held several times a year at AWIC headquarters in Maryland.

Public Relations/Education Representative
The public relations/education representative will be responsible for correspondence between the university, researchers, the IACUC, and when applicable, the broader local community. This member will also serve as secretary and be responsible for minutes at meetings.

Departmental Representatives
A representative from each department with animal research laboratories will serve on the IU alternatives committee. These committee members will provide insight into their respective fields of study and answer questions that arise in committee meetings about professional language, methodologies, etc. Similar to IACUC policy, when a suitable member does not volunteer for committee service, the department will be asked to submit a list of three candidates to be considered by the alternatives committee.

IACUC Liaison
The IACUC liaison will function as the primary communication link between the IACUC and IU alternatives committee. This committee member will serve as either the chair or co-chair of the IU alternatives committee.

Animal Protectionist
The animal protectionist will speak on behalf of the animals.

Veterinarian
A local veterinarian will serve as an important member of the committee. This committee will be responsible for providing essential information on the procedures outlined in the proposals.

Research Assistant
The research assistant will aid the information specialist in conducting database searches and organizing the bibliographic materials collected. This may be a student interested in a science-related field or a library science.

Mission of the Indiana Alternatives Committee

The Indiana University Alternatives to Animal Use Committee is charged with the following mission:

• To act as an extension of the IACUC in addressing nonanimal alternatives.
• To research and encourage innovative mechanisms to ensure appropriate, effective and efficient considerations of alternatives. The committee will recognize investigators who develop and publish novel alternative methods. This recognition is for researchers who endeavor in categories of replacement, refinement, and reduction.
• To make aware and encourage the use of resources and literature to educate and assist animal researchers in achieving the goals of refinement of current methods, reduction in numbers of animals used, and replacement of animals with viable nonanimal models.
• To monitor and document refinement, reduction and replacement activities on the Indiana University, Bloomington Campus, and to demonstrate the university's commitment to finding alternatives to animal testing.
• To educate interested parties and researchers by inviting experts on animal alternatives to speak at the university.
• To provide funding sources for alternative research that promote nonanimal methodologies.

Felicia Holden is a student at Indiana University. The formation of the alternatives committee was her idea and she is working with university officials to set up the committee.