Committee on Animal Research and Ethics (CARE): 2015 annual report

• 2015 Chair: Kenneth Leising
• Allyson Bennett
• John Capitanio
• Wendy Lynch
• Mark Reilly
• James Rowlett
• Sangeeta Panicker
  APA staff liaison

In pursuit of its mission of safeguarding and promoting ethically and scientifically sound research and teaching involving nonhuman animals in psychological science, the Committee on Animal Research and Ethics’ (CARE) focus in 2015 was on advocacy and outreach. These general goals were advanced in a number of ways that built on previous years’ progress.

Congressional briefing

The American Psychological Association (APA) sponsored a Congressional briefing on March 27, 2015, titled “Animal Research: What’s at Stake?” The briefing, held in the U.S. Capitol Building, addressed the role of basic research with non-human animals within the larger enterprise of applied, clinical, and translational research that benefits humans. A major focus of the briefing, which featured three psychological scientists as speakers, was on how research with nonhuman animals leads to a better understanding of the impact of adverse early experiences in humans and the design of interventions to promote healthy development.

Former CARE Chair Allyson Bennett moderated the briefing and opened the session by discussing the history of animal research in the biological and behavioral sciences, including groundbreaking discoveries and treatments that have benefited both humans and other animals, such as the discovery of insulin. She reviewed the ethical and regulatory framework within which laboratory animal research is conducted in the U.S., and underscored the moral obligations of scientists to weigh the potential benefits and harms when designing a study and to attend to the welfare of animal subjects. Dr. Bennett recognized that nonhuman animal research raises complex issues and that people with differing philosophical viewpoints might disagree about the ethical acceptability of such research. However, she emphasized the need for fact-based and civil public dialogue that includes recognition of the contributions that animal research has made and continues to make to the advancement of knowledge and the improvement of human welfare. The other speakers included Megan Gunnar (University of Minnesota), who presented her research on the role of healthy early attachment relationships in modulating the stress physiology of the developing human child, and Mary Dozier (University of Delaware), who addressed how findings from basic animal research have shaped interventions for caregivers of children who may have experienced early maltreatment or neglect.

The briefing was co-sponsored by the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, the American Society of Primatologists, the International Study Group Investigating Drugs as Reinforcers and the Neurobehavioral Teratology Society. In addition to congressional staff, audience members included representatives from scientific organizations, federal agencies and groups opposed to the conduct of research with nonhuman animals.

Congressional office visits

During its spring meeting, the Committee participated in an advocacy training workshop conducted by the APA Science Government Relations Office (GRO). GRO staff provided the Committee with a broad overview of Congress and mechanisms for interacting with Congressional members. CARE members were also trained on strategies for effective communication with Congressional offices. After intensive preparation for their Capitol Hill visits, armed with packets of informational materials that CARE staff had assembled, members visited the Congressional offices of their various state representatives to raise awareness firstly of the role of ethical nonhuman animal research in improving the health and welfare of both humans and other animals. Members also encouraged their Congressional Representatives to continue support for research with nonhuman animals and to oppose bills or amendments that argue against all research with nonhuman animals. Secondly, on behalf of the broader membership of APA, members reiterated that cuts to NSF and NIH funds has proximal effects on the pace of innovation in public health research and more distal effects by reducing the training of future generations of scientists and practitioners.

Comments to USDA on petition to define alternatives to procedures that may cause pain or distress

In May, on behalf of APA, the Committee drafted comments on a petition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), filed by a group opposed to nonhuman animal research. The petitioners proposed amending the Animal Welfare regulations to include a definition of the term “alternative” and to change the existing definition of “painful procedure” as one that may cause more than momentary or slight pain or distress to animals, even if pain is subsequently relieved pharmacologically. While wholly supporting the need for humane care and treatment of nonhuman animals in research, APA recommended that USDA not initiate rulemaking, based on the determinations that the proposed amendments would impose a significant regulatory and administrative burden on the research enterprise, restrict new forms of research, thus hindering the advancement of knowledge and the improvement of the health of both humans and other animals, and have little, if any impact on the welfare of the nonhuman animals in research.

Comments to USDA on petition to develop specific ethologically appropriate standards for nonhuman primates in research

In June, on behalf of APA, the Committee drafted comments on a petition to the USDA, filed by another group opposed to nonhuman animal research. The petitioners proposed extending NIH’s standards for captive chimpanzees in research to serve as the basis for all species of nonhuman primates in captivity, and adding species-specific modifications where appropriate. While wholly supporting the need for humane care and treatment of nonhuman animals in research, APA recommended that USDA not initiate rulemaking, based on the determinations that the current regulations, alongside outcome-based performance standards, are applicable to a wide range of diverse species, settings, and types of research and the proposed amendments would not improve the welfare of nonhuman animals in research. Instead, APA suggested that institutional personnel with relevant training and expertise in the welfare of nonhuman animals in captivity should be authorized to make decisions about housing and environmental needs on a case-by-case basis.

Comments to USDA on petition to amend the reporting requirements for research facilities under the Animal Welfare Act regulations

In August, on behalf of APA, the Committee drafted comments on a petition to the USDA, filed by an organization opposed to nonhuman animal research. The petitioners proposed amending the Animal Welfare regulations to require research facilities to provide information about numbers, types of animals, and the specific research, testing, or educational purposes for which the nonhuman animals are being used. While APA advocates and promotes for transparency in research, it recommended that USDA not initiate rulemaking based on the determinations that the proposed amendment would impose a significant regulatory and administrative burden on the research enterprise and have little, if any impact on the welfare of the nonhuman animals in research.

Letters of support for Dr. Stephen Suomi

In January, the Committee provided input for a letter in support of APA member Stephen J. Suomi, PhD, who was being targeted by a leading organization that is opposed to nonhuman animal research. The letter was sent to five members of Congress who had requested that the NIH Director conduct a review of the ethical and scientific justification for the program of research with nonhuman primates conducted by Dr. Suomi at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). APA detailed the scientific contributions of Dr. Suomi’s research over the last thirty years as well as highlighted the fact that policies and procedures for laboratory animal care that Dr. Suomi had instituted for his laboratory were exemplary. Copies of the letter were also sent to NIH Director, Dr. Francis Collins and the Director of NICHD, Dr. Alan Guttmacher.

Data sharing initiative

The Committee revisited the Data Sharing Policy developed by the Publications and Communications Board (P&C) Replication and Data Sharing (RADS) Task Force. CARE discussed ethical and practical issues in sharing research data, identifying several unique issues pertaining to nonhuman animal research data and critical topics that needed to be addressed. John Capitanio represented CARE on the data sharing working group that was convened by BSA to outline a plan of action for APA. Based on the discussions at a retreat meeting focused on data sharing that was held in conjunction with the fall 2014 consolidated meetings, and with additional input from the represented governance groups, the working group drafted a document entitled “Data Sharing: Principles and Considerations for Policy Development.” The document was widely disseminated to federal agencies and sister organizations and was well received. Additionally, member Michael Ross will co-write an article for a special issue of the American Psychologist.

CARE discussed its immediate and long-term goals, as well as initiatives to meet these goals, at a retreat meeting on November 5-6. CARE generated a list of potential initiatives for the Committee to pursue, including:

• CARE newsletter: The Committee will re-visit an initiative to write articles on advocacy efforts to be included in the Divisions 3, 6, 25, and 28 newsletters. Member Allyson Bennett suggested updating an article she wrote for the Science Directorate Newsletter: Psychological Science Agenda in 2012, titled Animal research: The bigger picture and why we need psychologists to speak out. The proposed article(s) would serve as a call to action and include current challenges, APA initiatives and resources for scientists to engage in outreach to the public on the importance of nonhuman animal research for the welfare of both people and other animals.
• Preparing teachers of psychology: To prepare precollege-level teachers of psychology to include information about nonhuman animal research in their teaching, the Committee will explore collaborating with the APA Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools (TOPSS) and Committee on Associate and Baccalaureate Education (CABE) to develop lesson plans and modules on specific content areas and to offer annual train-the-trainer workshops to enable teachers to stay current in psychological science.
• Advocacy: The Committee will continue its advocacy efforts to promulgate evidence-based regulations that protect the welfare of laboratory animals, and promote implementation of regulations and policies that ensure laboratory animal welfare while facilitating scientific progress.

Allyson Bennett, John Capitanio, Kenneth Leising, Wendy Lynch, and Mark Reilly continued to serve on the Committee. James Rowlett joined the Committee in 2015. CARE elected Dr. Capitanio to serve as the Chair of CARE in 2016. Drs. Leising and Lynch rotated off the Committee at the end of 2015, and were replaced by Regina Gazes and Bonnie Perdue.