Animal Experimentation – an Introduction

Made in the interest of Animals by FIAPO. Please direct any queries to Alokparna Sengupta at Alokparna@fiapo.org

Alokparna Sengupta Coordinator, FIAPO

Animal Experimentation

Animal Experimentation

Regulatory EducationBasic research

Educational institutions

Government research

Private institutions

Private Discovery

Government research

CRO

Pharmacy

Veterinary

Medical

Schools

Life Sciences

ANIMALS USED

Basic Research

• Fundamental biological and medical research

– Drug discovery

– Discovery of other products such as pesticides, cosmetics, vaccines

• Developing new treatments for diseases

• Preparations of natural products used in medical research and treatment

• Study of genetic disorders

• Development of new diagnostic tests for diseases

• In biology and medical education

Education

• Animals are used in secondary and higher secondary school - Dissection

• Animals are experimented on in Undergraduate studies

Life Sciences

Medical courses

Veterinary courses

Pharmacy courses

Regulatory Testing

• Regulatory testing is such that is mandated by the Government authorities

in India

• This mandate is for 2 purposes:

– Clinical or Human Testing

– Marketing

Toxicity testing

What is Toxicity testing?

Toxicity testing or safety testing is defined as the study of the adverse effects of

chemical and physical agents on biological systems. Toxicity testing can be of

various kinds - In vitro, In vivo or In silico.

Scientists themselves are open and encouraging about this

Alternatives are already present and are still in the development process

After NAS’ 2007 report of “Toxicity testing in the 21st Century: A vision and a strategy”

HSUS, HSI and HSLF, along with NIH, CAAT and various other stakeholders are working

together

A global campaign to promote greater reliance on proven non-animal testing methods

India’s participation starts with the Toxicity paper

Why is it prevalent?

Animal Experimentation

Since March, 2011

FIAPO-HSI Toxicity Paper

Titled the “ Status of Toxicity Testing in India”, the paper focuses on toxicity

safety testing regulations in India

The aim of this paper is to:

Identify stakeholders in toxicity testing work.

Identify toxicity testing requirements for regulatory approval in India of

Biologicals, Drugs, Foods, Pesticides, Cosmetics and Industrial

Chemicals in the country.

Identify key individuals and agencies involved in chemical safety

regulation and in toxicity testing.

Identify progressive Indian scientists

Research - Books, articles, journals on Toxicity

Online research

Interviews with scientists

Enrolling into various “lab animal courses” at various research institutes

No Indian data available

RTIs sent to specific 35 research institutions and plan to continue to cover

more institutions: 30,000 animals among only 4 institutions.

Met with Dr Andrew Rowan for a briefing

Draft presented in September, 2011

Paper reviewed by experts

Final paper ready.

FIAPO-HSI Toxicity PaperP

roce

ss

Where the paper directed us…

Regulatory authorities

Scientists, scientists and more of them

Seminar series- Look all around to bring in experts for knowledge and information

and India’s involvement in the global revolution

The public - to spread awareness

FIAPO-HSI Toxicity Paper

Regulatory authorities:

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Bureau of Indian Standards

Central Insecticide Board, Ministry of Agriculture

Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments in Animals (CPCSEA)

FIAPO-HSI Toxicity Paper

Scientists: Long meetings with scientists to understand the ever evolving regulatory change taking place

Initiation of a network of Indian scientists from promoting welfare in animal experiments

First meeting held in January

First presentation in February at a one-day conference in Hyderabad (LASA)

Next presentation in April at Hyderabad at a 2-day conference (LASAI)

Seminar series:

First Seminar series held in December with Dr Thomas Hartung, Director, CAAT, Johns Hopkins University

Half day sessions at Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow and National Institution, Hyderabad

More than 300 participants at these events

Recruited some Network participants here too

Great opportunity for networking and furthering our regulatory procedures too

Second series last week with Dr Andrew Rowan, CEO, HSI

FIAPO-HSI Toxicity Paper

Public outreach :

Cosmetic Testing campaign – Awakening the public to a new view, petitions, demonstrations, promotion of

cruelty free organizations

Household testing campaign

Pesticide campaigns - Bring about awareness to the public with mailers and petitions when the time is

appropriate

Involving the animal welfare community – Regular fortnightly updates, petitions, exercises, surveys, etc

An annual report also in process

Seminar by Dr. Thomas Hartung

Seminar by Dr. Andrew Rowan

Q&A

Thank you!