Use of animals in research highly regulated at McGill
Human and animals share more than 250 common illnesses. Over the last century, animal experiment has led to such major advancements as the discovery of vaccines against infectious diseases, a broad spectrum of antibiotics and anti-infective drugs, insulin for the management of diabetes as well as diagnostic and surgical techniques such as the electrocardiogram, open heart and organ transplantation surgery. Thanks to animal experimentation, millions of people and domestic animals live longer and healthier lives. Finally, breakthroughs which are reported almost daily in the comprehension of or the development of a cure for such ailments as cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer's disease or cystic fibrosis, largely depend on the identification of an appropriate animal model.
In Canada, in order to firmly ground the concern for humane care and use of animals in all aspects of scientific research and teaching, scientists and animal welfare activists founded the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) in 1968. First established as a standing committee of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, this council was incorporated, in 1982, as a private, non-profit corporation. The CCAC, which has been imitated in many countries , works with universities, colleges, voluntary agencies, the federal government, the pharmaceutical industry and the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies to develop guidelines for animal research. All Canadian research facilities, including industry-based operations voluntarily meet these standards, which are outlined in the CCAC Guide to the Care and Use of Experimental Animals. For more information consult the CCAC website: www.ccac.ca
The use of animals in research and teaching at McGill University is overseen by a hierarchy of committees : the Animal Resource Advisory Council , the Facility Animal Care Committee, and the University Animal Care Committee. All research and teaching use of animals must be approved by an Animal Care Committee whose membership includes a veterinarian and a community representative in addition to scientific and teaching representatives. McGill University has demonstrated its concern for the welfare of animals and humane experiment by implementing an additional level of review, unique to Canada: the Ethics Subcommittee of the Animal Facility Coordinating Committee. This subcommittee chaired by an ethicist and composed of two community representatives, a physiologist, an ethicist, a veterinarian, a psychologist and a surgeon - has the final say in the approval of research protocols at McGill University and its affiliated hospitals.
N.B. The rules concerning the care and use of animals at McGill are available in French and English.
