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Use of Human/Animal Subjects

Professional ethics and laboratory-related skills include understanding what constitutes professional attitudes and behavior, knowledge about the appropriate use of animals and humans in research, and understanding issues of confidentiality.

The APS and the Association of Chairs of Departments of Physiology recommend that trainees understand the importance of and work to develop the following professional ethics skills:

a.	Knowledge of appropriate use of human/animal subjects
b.	Knowledge of proper treatment of human/animal subjects
c.	Knowledge of how human use and animal care committees work
d.	Knowledge of proper protocols

and the following laboratory-related skills:

a.	Knowledge of guidelines and institutional certification in human experimentation, animal experimentation, and laboratory safety, including use and disposal of radioactive and hazardous materials
b.	Skill in handling of experimental animals and working with human subjects
c.	Skill in making measurements from living systems

(from the APS/ACDP List of Professional Skills for Physiologists and Trainees)

Be sure to check with your institutional offices for information and guidelines for your specific institution. In addition, here are a variety of web sites with guidelines and examples that you might find useful.*

Human Subjects
Animal Subjects

Human Subjects
AAMC Research Compliance Resources
Association of American Medical Colleges

Bioethics Resources on the Web: Tutorials, Case Studies and Courses
National Institutes of Health

Guiding Principles for Research Involving Animals and Human Beings
The Revised Declaration of Helsinki by the World Medical Association

Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP)
US Dept. of Health & Human Services

Protection of Human Subjects (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 45, Public Welfare, Part 46)
US Dept. of Health & Human Services

Animal Subjects
Guidelines (various)
European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries Associations and European Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods

Animal Research Issues
American Physiological Society

APS Guiding Principles in the Care and Use of Animals
American Physiological Society

Bioethics Resources on the Web: Tutorials, Case Studies and Courses
National Institutes of Health

Experimental Animal User Training, Core Topic Modules (12 web-based modules)
Canadian Council on Animal Care

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees
American Association for Laboratory Animal Science

Resources
Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care

Rules and Regulations
Northwest Association for Biomedical Research

Useful Resources
NIH Office of Animal Care and Use

*APS does not endorse or assume responsibility for the information posted on these web sites.

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