f6098d8b__and_Use_of_Laboratory_Animals__Comments
[ID] 65 [Entry Date] 04/14/2011 at 04:26:42 PM [Affiliation] Self [Comments] 
Comment 1: The new guideline requires an increase in floor spaces for a mouse 25 grams and over (15 sq. in.) and for a female mouse with a litter of pups (51 sq. in.). It is still highly controversial if this increased floor space will increase animal health and wellbeing. However, they represent an unnecessary financial burden on everyone who uses or cares for rodents in research. The money from a typical R01 is not sufficient to pay the cage charges at the current funding level. With the worsening funding environment, I thought that available money should be spent on advancing research, and not on buying new cages for a perceived (but scientifically unproven) increase in animal well being.
Listing of Public Comments on Proposed Adoption and Implementation of the Eighth Edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals