In Canada, federal law requires animal models must be used to assess new therapies before any human clinical trials may be conducted.

Scientists first seek non-animal alternatives, such as cell cultures and computer simulations. However – particularly in disease research and the development of new medicines – these methods cannot yet mirror the complicated processes that occur in a living system.

For example, computer models are limited to analyzing data that is already known. Test tube, or in vitro, studies use tissues or cells obtained from animals or people. Studying living cells in containers cannot reproduce conditions in complex systems - such as circulatory or digestive systems – found in animals and humans.

Almost every major medical advance for both humans and animals has depended on the use of research animals. Examples include antibiotics, anesthetics, heart valve replacements and vaccines to prevent rabies in companion animals.

There are obvious differences but there are also remarkable similarities. For example, much of what we know about the immune system has come from studies in poultry and in mice, which share 90 per cent of our genes. We have learned about the nervous system from studying invertebrates such as squid, snails and fruit flies. Major biological systems, such as digestive and cardiovascular systems, work in same way in animals as in humans.

UBC conducts research, not testing and is formalizing a policy to prohibit testing. Testing typically involves routine validation of a product after it has gone to market, such as testing of cosmetics and other substances for consumer safety purposes. Such animal testing is not part of UBC’s research program.

In Canada, federal law requires animal models must be used to assess new therapies before any human clinical trials may be conducted.

Researchers wishing to use animals in a research study must follow a series of steps. First, they must prepare a proposal to a funding agency demonstrating that the proposed research has scientific merit and is relevant to human or animal health. Each proposal is evaluated by a panel of experts in the particular field, and is rejected if the proposed research is flawed, unnecessary or redundant. Funding is only granted to the most meritorious proposals. For example, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, a Federal agency that funds most of the health research in Canada, only approves and funds a fraction of the proposals it receives.

Once her or his proposal is approved for funding, the researcher must submit an application for an animal care protocol to the UBC Animal Care Committee (click to view blank samples of an Animal Breeding Protocol, an Animal Research Protocol, and an Animal Teaching protocol). The application is closely scrutinized by members of the UBC Animal Care Committee, who verify that the proposed research plan is reasonable, and that the answers sought can only be obtained through the use of animals. Composed of members of UBC faculty and staff, as well as representatives from the public, the Animal Care Committee ensures the proposed procedures meet current humane and welfare standards and use as few animals as possible.

UBC subscribes to the 3Rs principles of animal use: Replacement, Reduction and Refinement. Careful design of the research project, continual refinement of procedures and emerging technologies all contribute to reducing numbers of animals used in research at UBC.

In Canada, federal law requires animal models must be used to assess new therapies before any human clinical trials may be conducted.

Humans and animals (with owner consent) do participate in studies called clinical trials. The research path to medical advances typically progresses from non-animal research, followed by research that uses animals, and finally clinical trials with human subjects. Federal laws strictly regulate such trials.

Research animals are protected on several levels: by Federal and Provincial law, by independent veterinary staff and by UBC researchers themselves, who rely on humanely treated animals to provide reliable scientific results.

UBC must comply with provincial and federal Cruelty to Animals legislation and may be investigated by the relevant enforcement agencies. The Canadian Council on Animal Care audits UBC’s research program once every three years, looking at both animal care compliance and proper functioning of the Committee itself. The most recent official assessment visits were in 2010, 2007 and 2003. UBC currently meets or exceeds all CCAC requirements for humane animal care.

Animal facilities are inspected regularly by UBC Animal Care Centre veterinarians and annually by the Animal Care Committee. Some facilities are inspected more frequently, in particular facilities that hold large numbers of animals and larger animals. Inspection practices include post-approval monitoring by a UBC veterinarian to ensure the terms of the Animal Care Committee approval are being met.

All researchers and staff who work with animals are required to complete the mandatory Canadian Council on Animal Care training. A UBC veterinarian is on call at all times. UBC also has a “whistle-blower” policy that enables confidential reporting of questionable conduct relating to animal use.

The vast majority of animal research does not create any pain or discomfort. Many studies involve observation only; others may involve injections, taking small blood samples, or changes to feeding or breeding patterns.

Animals may experience pain during studies focused on diseases such as cancer or arthritis. Researchers must provide a pain management plan for any study that involves some degree of pain.

All studies that involve animals undergoing surgery or operative procedures must be accompanied by an approved pain management plan - including the use of anesthetics during or after the procedures - just like human patients.

All investigative procedures have pre-defined endpoints - signs and symptoms of distress (such as weight loss). In those few studies where animals may undergo some stress or pain, very specific endpoints are required. The investigation must stop when the endpoint is reached. No animal is left to die as a result of a procedure.

Detecting and responding appropriately to prevent animal pain, distress and suffering is an important role of the animal care and research staff, who are specially trained to recognize symptoms of distress. (See Animal Care Committee web site for course information at http://det.cstudies.ubc.ca/ACC/index.html)

In 2010, a total of 211, 604 animals were involved in scientific research at UBC. This represents roughly six per cent of total animals involved in research in Canada (3.375 million according to the Canadian Council for Animal Care.)

In context, UBC ranks consistently amongst the top three recipients of federal research funding in the country.

97 per cent of the animals used were rodents (56 per cent), fish (35 per cent) and reptiles and amphibians (6 per cent).

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Chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans are advanced and endangered primates. These higher primates are not used for research anywhere in Canada, and their use in research has virtually ceased worldwide.

Rhesus macaques are commonly used for human and animal health-related research because of their anatomical and physiological closeness to humans and the relative ease with which they can be cared for and bred in captivity.

A small number of macaques are involved in UBC studies on depression, Parkinson's disease and other brain disorders at UBC.

Research animals are purchased from professional suppliers who have bred them specifically for scientific research to ensure they are healthy and have uniform genetic characteristics.

Pets and stray animals are not acceptable for research. UBC does not obtain any animals from the SPCA; the BC SPCA is not legally permitted to provide animals for research. The University does not obtain research animals from any City Pound.

Scientists are still seeking cures for many diseases, but new vaccines, medications, and treatments for humans, companion animals, domestic animals, fish and wildlife have been generated from animal research.

Advances in human health include treatments for Alzheimer’s, cancer, cystic fibrosis, and kidney disease. The fact is, no therapy for humans can be administered unless it has first been used with animals.

Pets and livestock have also benefited from these advances. In addition, animal research has led to vaccines that protect animals against rabies, distemper, feline leukemia, and other fatal conditions.

Any UBC personnel found to have willfully mistreated research animals are banned permanently from further contact and may be banned from University premises. They may also face prosecution under the Criminal Code of Canada.

The use of animals in research is a privilege and not a right. There is zero tolerance for unethical or cruel treatment of animals in the UBC system.

Complex differences in anatomy and functions sometimes make the use of larger animals necessary for some studies such as cardiac, obstetric and infectious diseases research.

For example, development of artificial heart valve and cardiac stent technology has used pigs or sheep because their hearts and blood vessels respond to drugs and anesthetics very much like those of humans and are similar in size.

When studies are minimally invasive, some research animals may be used in further studies. Others may be humanely euthanized when an investigation is completed to obtain valuable data, which cannot otherwise be obtained, through autopsies and microscopic examination.

Humane methods of euthanasia are required by the Canadian Council on Animal Care. Typically, the animal is first sedated or anesthetized and then given a lethal dose of anesthetic. This method ensures the animal feels no pain.

In some cases involving rodents or small birds, if the scientific outcome of the study will be compromised by use of anesthetic, animals are killed quickly without anesthetic. Such procedures must have strong scientific justification to be approved.

Many techniques developed in research with animals are later applied to both human and veterinary clinical practice. For example, advanced surgical techniques such as total hip replacement and open-heart surgery are now available for pets thanks to animal research. In addition, animal research has led to vaccines that protect animals against rabies, distemper, feline leukemia, and other fatal conditions.

This is incorrect. In fact, UBC, along with other research universities, is very open about the research program. Complete research findings and methods are published in scientific journals that can be accessed by the public.

Participation in CCAC programs is not voluntary. UBC must be accredited by the CCAC to receive funding from the federal government, which funds most university research in Canada. If the University fails to comply with the guidelines the Council has legal authority to immediately suspend federal funding for animal care and research programs..