Animal research in the UK __________________________________________________
In the UK, the use of animals in scientific experiments is governed by one of the strictest regulatory systems in the world - the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA). The
main provisions of ASPA outline the scope of the Act, what constitutes a protected animal, the definition of a regulated procedure and procedures that are not regulated by the Act.
The Act also defines who can (and under what circumstances) perform an experimental procedure on a protected animal.
In brief, in the UK it is an offence to perform a regulated procedure on a protected animal without the necessary Home Office authority and issue of conditional certificates and licences.
Home Office Inspectors regularly visit animal laboratories to ensure compliance with the Act and to provide expert advice and guidance. All Home Office Inspectors are either qualified medical doctors or veterinary surgeons.
To find out more about the use of animals used in scientific experiments in the UK, click on the video link opposite
EU Law
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The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act implemented the requirements of the European Directive 86/609/EC and the newly revised Directive 2010/63/EU The new European Directive is heavily influenced by the principles of Russell and Burch's 3R's model and is scheduled to be implemented into UK legislation by November 2012. In addition to updating ethical and technical aspects to the existing law, the new Directive includes all live cephalopods under the definition of protected animals.
Animal research and human medicines
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Developing a new medicine is time consuming and expensive, taking on average ten to fifteen years and costing in excess of £550 million. Animals have played a crucial role in the development of new medicines in treating important diseases and conditions in both humans and animals.
However, much of the work involved in the discovery and development of new medicines does not involve the use of animals. For example, most preliminary work in drug development is performed using computer modelling and High-throughput screening that allows tens of thousands of molecular variations to be be investigated in a short space of time. Further development may involve in-vitro assays. From here, only the "candidate" compounds that show potential as medicines will go on to be tested in animals. Information gained from animal studies is used to help predict how the drug will interact with, and affect complex biological systems before it is given to healthy human volunteers.
Other types of animal research
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Experimental animals are used for a variety of scientific research purposes. For example; in helping scientists to understand mechanisms of disease, production of biological materials, human, veterinary and agricultural research and in education and training. Click the video link above for more information on the numbers and species used in the different research disciplines.
(Video produced by Understanding Animal Research)