Bioscience Briefing
For info about biomedical funding, animal research and other bioscience issues, click here.
Legislation Watch
So-called "Pet Safety Bills" don't protect pets but they do pose a threat to medical research. More information
Science Policy Announcements
For the latest news from the APS Science Policy click here.
Resource Book Now Available
Click here for more info on The APS Resource Book for the Design of Animal Exercise Protocols.
Animal Research
Guide to Internet Resources:
Animals in Research and Education
National and International Organizations
- Americans for Medical Progress (AMP)
- The AMP is a non-profit educational foundation that supports the vital role of animals in medical research. The AMP website is a timely, comprehensive source for reporters and the public on animal-based research, animal welfare, research opposition, regulation, history, and education resources.
- Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC)
- AWIC is part of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Its web site provides information about the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA), which is the law governing the humane treatment of animals in research, teaching, and testing.
- Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB)
- The "Biologists Discover AMAZING Things" page of the FASEB web site has dramatic color photographs of animals that contribute to medical research, plus images of magnified specimens of human tissue. There are also links to FASEB's "Breakthroughs in Bioscience" series explaining the basic research roots of many discoveries.
- Foundation for Biomedical Research (FBR)
- FBR promotes public understanding of the humane use of animals in research. Its web page has "Research Facts" articles on such topics as government regulation of animal research, the myth of "pet theft," and animal species as models of disease. There are Frequently Asked Questions about animal research questions.
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR)
- ILAR is part of the National Academy of Sciences. It conducts studies on topics related to research animal welfare. It also has guidelines for the use of animals in the classroom.
- Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT)
- CAAT promotes the use of alternatives to animal testing through the "three Rs," which refers to efforts to refine tests to lessen animal pain and distress, reduce the number of animals needed for a test, and replace animals with non-animal methods or lower-order animals.
- National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR) Animal Law Section
- NABR's Animal Law Section monitors the intersection of animal law and biomedical research.
- NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)
- OLAW monitors compliance of research with the Public Health Service Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, which applies to all research funded by the National Institutes of Health. The OLAW Page has information and a tutorial on the PHS Policy, as well as a link to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
- Patient's Voice for Medical Advance
- Formerly Seriously Ill for Medical Research, this group works to educate the public on the fundamental role of animal research in medical advancement.
- RDS—Understanding Animal Research in Medicine
- This site provides information about medical advances resulting from animal research, as well as areas where treatments are emerging. Another section contrasts "animal rights myths" with facts about animal research.
State Biomedical Research Societies
- States United for Biomedical Research (SUBR)
- A federation of state societies working to support biomedical research.
- SUBR Resource Guide
- A collection of resources for scientists, educators and activists from the different SUBR sites.
- California Biomedical Research Association (CBRA)
- CBRA has programs for students and teachers in grades K-12, as well as information for the public and Curriculum materials.
- Massachusetts Society for Medical Research (MSMR)
- MSMR has resources for teachers and students in elementary through high school and a Monograph series with detailed information on specific diseases for anyone.
- Michigan Society for Medical Research (MISMR)
- MISMR offers a speaker's bureau, an essay contest, and educational materials, including essays on animal research contributions to human and animal health.
- Minnesota Chapter of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS)
- The "Animals in Science" page provides answers to questions about animals in research and links to information about animals and educational resource materials. The text also links to explanations of the scientific method and how animals serve as models of disease. The site also includes a section on the Care of Classroom Pets, including the AALAS Recommended Guidelines for the Care and Use of Animals in Secondary School, considerations on choosing a classroom pet, and pet choice pros and cons.
- Ohio Scientific Education & Research Association (OSERA)
- OSERA offers resources for students, teachers and the community, including curriculum materials, and tours of research facilities.
- Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research (PSBR)
- PSBR has essays on the need for animals in research and the benefits both humans and animals have derived from such research. Educational Materials and Programs include brochures, fact sheets, and other material related to the use of animals in research that can be ordered online.
- Washington Association for Biomedical Research (WABR)
- WABR has a speaker's bureau, a library of information on the role of animals in biomedical research, and a summer research institute for teachers at the University of Washington. Curriculum excerpts from "Modern Science Miracles" are available online.
Educational Resources
- Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) Student Information
- Information on animal research regulation and contributions to medicine collected by AAALAC.
- Ask A Scientist
- SciQuest provides links to various internet sites where the public can pose questions to scientists.
- BioRAP
- Biological Research for Animals and People offers a series of curriculum units on topics related to science and health, including AIDS, cancer, aging, and product safety testing.
- Educational Resources from States United for Biomedical Research
- A collection of resources from the different SUBR sites.
- The Electronic Zoo
- This page provides links to information about animal species, veterinary medicine, and the humane care and use of animals.
- Kids 4 Research
- This site features essays on why animals are needed for research and product safety testing; the role of animals in research about various diseases; careers working with lab animals; and answers to frequently asked questions about animal research and testing. There is also a reference bibliography.
- Minnesota Chapter of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS)
- The "Animals in Science" page provides answers to questions about animals in research and links to information about animals and educational resource materials. The text also links to explanations of the scientific method and how animals serve as models of disease. The site also includes a section on the Care of Classroom Pets, including the AALAS Recommended Guidelines for the Care and Use of Animals in Secondary School, considerations on choosing a classroom pet, and pet choice pros and cons.
- National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT)
- The NABT position statement on The Use of Animals in Biology Education
is available on its web site. The site also features links to online resources for biology educators.
- National Science Teacher Association (NSTA)
- The NSTA Position Statement on the Guidelines for Responsible Use of Animals in the Classroom
are accessible on this web site. An extensive Science
and Math Links page is also available.
- Norwegian Reference Centre for Laboratory Animal Science & Alternatives Database
- The Norwegian Inventory of Audiovisuals (NORINA) is a database of educational materials that can be used with or in place of animals. NORINA lists 3,600 searchable educational resources and can be searched according to subject matter and level of instruction.