‘Animal experimentation should be minimised'

 National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) Director B. Sesikeran,V.M. Katoch, Secretary, Department of Health Research and Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) M.N.Sastry CEO Bioserve and Amala Akkineni, founder of Blue Cross, during the World Laboratory Animal Day celebrations in Hyderabad on Tuesday.Photo:Nagara Gopal

On the one hand while humans are selling themselves to take part in clinical trials for major drug companies humans are also using animals as lab rats. It becomes a big issue when clinical trials on humans fail, but nobody seems to care when animal experiments fail. There is an element of hypocrisy in this, said Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Dr. V.M. Katoch.

“Eventually, animal experimentation in laboratories has to be minimised. Animals cannot express themselves and persons in-charge of the experiment should take responsibility. Basic rights of animals have to be protected,” Dr. Katoch said during World Laboratory Animal Day celebrations at National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) on Tuesday. 

Director of Animal Welfare Board of India, Anjani Kumar said that there was a need to stop experimenting with live animals in educational institutions. “We are putting a lot of effort to convince authorities to stop using live animals up to UG level,” he said. 

Speakers also suggested use of new technologies to replace live animals in laboratories. “New technologies that can simulate animal experiments have come up in the US. Such technology can eliminate use of live animals in laboratories. There are instances of computers giving better results than live animals,” said founder of Blue Cross, Hyderabad, Amala Akkineni, while interacting with press persons.

She highlighted the need to regulate use of live animals for research in cosmetics. “There are stringent regulations over the use of live animals in cosmetic research in Western countries. That's why such research is picking up in India,” she added. Eminent researchers in animal laboratory science were felicitated on the occasion.

Govt bans use of live animals for education, research

MUMBAI: The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has banned the use of live animals in dissection and other experiments in educational and research institutions. But scientists conducting new molecular research will be exempted from the ban.

Based on the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1960), the MoEF has issued guidelines to the University Grants Commission, ministry of health and family welfare, Pharmacy Council of India and the Medical Council of India to discontinue dissection and experiments with live animals in universities, colleges, research institutes, hospitals, laboratories and instead use alternatives like computer simulation.

The MoEF says that the central government is duty-bound to use alternatives to avoid unnecessary suffering or pain to animals.

It states that effective alternatives in the form of CDs, computer simulations and mannequin models are available; they are not only effective as absolute replacements for animals in teaching anatomy or physiology but are also superior learning tools in teaching of pharmacy or life sciences.

The guidelines were framed based on the duties of the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments and Animals (CPCSEA), which has been constituted under the provisions of Section 15 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1960).

The committee comprises seven nominees - three nominees appointed by CPCSEA and the rem-aining four from educa-tional institutes.

"The animal experiments should be stopped in all institutes except for the purpose of new molecular research. Sometimes, in laboratories, a lot of work is repeated and animals become unnecessary victims. Only scientists researching on a new molecular theory can experiment on animals. In medical and pharmacy colleges, there is unwanted cruelty towards animals which can be avoided. These guidelines mention imprisonment for five years and monetary penalty," said Mangal Jain, a nominee of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC), which is appointed by CPCSEA.

Hoshang Bilimoria, also a nominee appointed by the CPCSEA, said the guidelines were a welcome change.

"CPCSEA should give the nominees the power to inspect animals housed in educational institutes, experimentation centres or technical laboratories without prior intimation to the institutes. Cross-checks should also be maintained through other members," said Bilimoria.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-bans-use-of-live-animals-for-education-research/articleshow/12696452.cms 

Lab tests now on computers

Educational institutes and aspiring medical students can now conduct lab experiments on a software through computer software.
This first-of-its-kind software named ExPharma Pro has been introduced by Elsevier Health Sciences, India at the ongoing World Book Fair in Delhi. The software is priced at Rs 30,000 as an introductory offer for a year.

“Availability of animals for experimenting is decreasing per day and opposition by animal rights groups against animal cruelty while performing experiments in schools, universities and other educational institutions is a major concern. We devised this software to overcome these issues and have got approval from the Medical Council of India and the Pharmacy Council of India.

The matter is derived from the council's curriculum,” said Rohit Kumar, Managing Director, Elsevier, South Asia.  Kumar added that a University in Punjab is their first client. Doctors say they cannot do away with experimenting altogether as it is essential for medical students to understand how live tissues are affected or react to different drugs.

“Conducting experiments on animals has become a controversial and costly affair. This software will help in ensuring safety of animals and the students will also not have to be worried about victimising animals, preventing loss of life,” said Vidhu Goel, director of Clinical Education and Reference Division, Elsevier.

The software gives you an option of simulating five essential experiments on four animals dog, rabbit, frog and a guinea pig. Students can select from the list of drugs and conduct their experiment. 

The application will present a graph in front of the students which will help them to analyse their results and record their observations. The teachers can judge if students are learning or not. The software automatically tests students based on their answers.

Dr Chaitanya Koduri, science policy advisor, PETA believes that non-animal methods are humane, cost effective and have proved to be better. “Using these methods instead of purchasing animals every year would save universities an enormous amount of money and would better equip our nation’s future doctors in performing their duties. These alternatives last longer even after repeated use and will be an asset for any organisation and future doctors in the long run,” he said. 

Naveen Gaur, physics professor with Dyal Singh College echoed similar views: “This is a good effort. We will spend less and create an advanced learning environment for students.”

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/230871/lab-tests-now-computers.html