151 that IRBs are political rather than ethical creatures and safeguard the interests of researchers above patients. He makes suggestions for the reorganization of IRBs to make them more democratic. McNeill's arguments illustrate that Snow's analysis still holds true. His position is that IRBs, staffed mostly by medical workers, exist so that research can be approved. To a non-scientist, the bu...

Within the context of a workshop, a concept and practical guidance were developed that seek to balance potential benefits of animal experiments to humans, other animals, and the environment against the pain, suffering, and distress caused to the experimental animals. The aim was to achieve transparent decisions that can be communicated in a concise manner that is accessible to a layperson and i...

This article will detail some of the issues that must be considered as institutional animal care and use committees (IACUCs) review the use of nonhuman primates (NHPs) in research. As large, intelligent, social, long-lived, and non-domesticated animals, monkeys are amongst the most challenging species used in biomedical research and the duties of the IACUC in relation to reviewing research use ...

This report aims to facilitate the implementation of the Three Rs (reduction, refinement and replacement) in the testing of vaccines for regulatory and other purposes. The focus is predominantly on identification of reduction and refinement opportunities in batch potency testing but the principles described are widely applicable to other situations that involve experimental infections of animal...