The National Health and Medical Research Council have released an updated code of ethics for the use of animals in research.
The release of the code has sparked a discussion on the ethical treatment of animals in research.
Humane Research Australia CEO Helen Marston believes that there needs to be a government body that is focused on finding alternative sources.
“If we look overseas, they’ve got governments that are actually committed to funding the development and validation of these alternatives”, Ms Marston says.
Researchers must adhere to strict guidelines set out by the council before they are given permission to use animals for research.
“The code continues to require researchers and ethics committees to ensure that the three Rs are considered and applied,” the Australian Research Council says.
Ms Marston says that 9 out of 10 drugs tested on animals fail when tested on humans and money would be better spent finding alternatives that better resemble human cells.
“Apart from saving them from all the suffering you’re actually going to get much more accurate data for humans,” says Ms Marston.
The RSPCA contributed to the new guidelines and they do not condone the practice of using animals for research but understand the necessity of using them.
A statement on the RSPCA website says that they understand animals will be used for research while there is no alternatives but the tests carried out need to fit guidelines.
The website also says that animals need to be treated with respect and not scientific objects.
Ms Marston says her organisation also understands the use of animals for scientific research, but believes that researchers need to be sure they are using the right methods of care and only using animals when there is no alternative.
Alternatives being developed internationally.
- Artificial skin that can mimic human organs like skin and the liver.
- 3D human brain model that will assist neuroscientists.
- “Computational” method that predicts the toxicity of chemicals based on pre-existing knowledge of chemicals.
