Hold Animal Use Committees Accountable for Their Failures

Many biomedical research laboratories use animal testing to conduct their experiments. With

these experiments comes the issue of trust and accountability. This article critiques the

functioning of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) in research institutions.

The author, Lisa Jones-Engel, is a PETA advisor, a primate scientist, and a former member of the

University of Washington’s IACUC. She focuses on the effectiveness of IACUCs, and whether

or not they are being transparent when it comes to upholding animal welfare and ethical research

practices.

The author being a former UW IACUC member allows for insight on what exactly happens

within the committees. She states how during her experience the IACUC was violating the

public’s trust. One major concern raised was that IACUCs have evolved into something that they

were not originally designed for. They are now primarily focused on technical and administrative

matters, rather than serving as oversight bodies that ensure the ethical treatment and well-being

of animals in research, education, and safety testing.

While I believe it is important to acknowledge these concerns and hold the IACUCs accountable

for any form of injustices in their practice, it is also important to consider the potential bias in the

article. The author is PETA advisor, an organization known for its strong stance on animal rights.

When it comes to something as serious as fighting for animal rights, it is important to seek a

balanced view of the topic. The article states the need for increased transparency and

accountability in IACUCs, which is essential for ethical animal research practices; However, the

question still lies… What practical solutions can be implemented to address these issues, while

still enabling scientific breakthroughs?

Posted by Nicole Matthews (5)

Jones-Engel, Lisa. “Opinion: Hold Animal Use Committees Accountable for Their Failures.”

The Scientist Magazine®, 27 July 2022,

www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/opinion-hold-animal-use-committees-accountable-

or-their-failures-70278.