f6098d8b__and_Use_of_Laboratory_Animals__Comments
[ID] 104 [Entry Date] 04/18/2011 at 12:12:38 AM [Affiliation] Self [Comments] 
Comment 1: I do appreciate the thoughtfulness of the revised Guide. My chief concern, however, is that there is a shift in the document to emphasize administrative oversight over basic research. PIs are doing their best to enhance public health by conducting basic research under conditions of decreasing public funding and increased administrative burdens. While the new Guide helps by providing more detail for some animal care issues that have been vague in the past (e.g. cage sizes), some detail will actually have a likely negative impact on research productivity as more research dollars will need to be spent placating IACUC demands that may or may not enhance animal welfare (e.g. "should" for use of pharmaceutical grade compounds) vs. conducting studies that may lead to breakthroughs in understanding diseases relevant to public health. Comment 2: 2012 is too soon for an institution (especially a small institution with minimal IACUC funds) to be able to prepare for implementation of the new Guide.
Listing of Public Comments on Proposed Adoption and Implementation of the Eighth Edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals