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  • Protocol Review
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The weights of refinement and flexibility

Lab Animal volume 53, pages 23–25 (2024)Cite this article

Subjects

IACUCs need to ensure the application of the 3Rs, while allowing researchers to conduct their work with reasonable flexibility. We invited experts from the University of Notre Dame (Eric Felde) and Northwestern University (Stefanie Bittner), along with USDA and OLAW representatives (Louis DiVincenti and Axel Wolff) to respond to a challenging situation at Great Eastern University.

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References

  1. Public Health Service. PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 2015). Section IV.C.1. Review of PHS-Conducted or Supported Research Projects. https://olaw.nih.gov/policies-laws/phs-policy.htm#ReviewofPHS-ConductedorSupportedResearchProjects

  2. National Research Council. Guidelines for the care and use of mammals in neuroscience and behavioral research (National Academies Press, Washington DC, 2003).

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  5. USDA. Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/downloads/AC_BlueBook_AWA_508_comp_version.pdf

  6. AWA Research Facility Registration Updates, Reviews, and Reports. 86 FR 66919 (November 24, 2021; to be codified at 9 C.F.R. pts. 2, 3, 4). https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/11/24/2021-25614/awa-research-facility-registration-updates-reviews-and-reports

  7. Animal Welfare Regulations. 9 CFR § 2.31(d)(1).

  8. Office of Science and Technology Policy. U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training. Federal Register, May 20, 1985, Vol. 50, No. 97, [FR Doc. 85-12059]. Principle IV. https://olaw.nih.gov/policies-laws/phs-policy.htm#USGovPrinciples

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Associate Director - IACUC/IBC/PAM, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA

    Lauren Danridge

  2. Animal Care & Use Office, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Bill Greer

  3. Director of Research Compliance, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA

    Eric Felde

  4. IACUC Office, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Stefanie Bittner

  5. Senior Veterinary Medical Officer – Research, Animal Care National Policy Staff, APHIS, USDA, Riverdale, MD, USA

    Louis DiVincenti

  6. Acting Director, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, OER, OD, NIH, HHS, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Axel Wolff

Authors
  1. Lauren Danridge
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  2. Bill Greer
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  3. Eric Felde
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  4. Stefanie Bittner
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  5. Louis DiVincenti
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  6. Axel Wolff
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lauren Danridge.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Disclaimer The views expressed in “A word from OLAW and USDA” represent the positions of OLAW/NIH and USDA, respectively, but the remainder of the contributions in this article do not represent official support or an endorsement by NIH, USDA, or any government agency.

Related links: PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals – FAQs. Protocol Review, Question No. D.6. https://olaw.nih.gov/faqs#/guidance/faqs?anchor=50318.

PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals – FAQs. Protocol Review, Question No. D.7. https://olaw.nih.gov/faqs#/guidance/faqs?anchor=50319.

PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals – FAQs. Protocol Review, Question No. D.11. https://olaw.nih.gov/faqs#/guidance/faqs?anchor=50323.

PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals – FAQs. Animal Use and Management, Question No. F.19. https://olaw.nih.gov/faqs#/guidance/faqs?anchor=52964

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Danridge, L., Greer, B., Felde, E. et al. The weights of refinement and flexibility. Lab Anim 53, 23–25 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41684-023-01321-y

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