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At Memorial University majority of researchers who use animals in biomedical research come from the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Science (together around eighty researchers). There are also several animal users at the School of Pharmacy.
By far the majority of animals used at Memorial are the rodents (rats, mice, gerbils, voles). These animals are bred and sent to Memorial from accredited breeding farms. The Animal Care facility at Memorial obtains also a small number of feral groundhogs (woodchucks) from a reputable supplier in the United States and locally from Labrador.
Dogs and cats, supplied previously to the University by the Humane Services, since the year 1995 have been replaced entirely by the Yucatan Miniature pigs bred at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, Animal Care Services breeding facility.
Some examples of using animals in research: Research on mice includes studies on cancer, immunology, nutrition, and aging. Rats are used for similar purposes (cancer, immunology, aging), and for hypertension and diabetes research. Gerbils are used for studies on cerebrovascular problems such as stroke. Voles are used for the genetic studies on reproduction and parentenal behaviour. Groundhog are used for studies on infectious hepatitis and can also be used for studies on obesity and cardiovascular problems. Yucatan miniature pigs are mostly used as models for medical doctors who are undertaking specialized training in areas such as pediatrics, surgery or emergency problems. The procedures demonstrated on animals are done under the general anesthesia. When the procedures are finished, animals do not recover, they are euthanized by an overdose of an anesthetic.
Before any research on animals can be done it must be approved at the national level by a scientific committees to which researchers send their proposals, and locally by a university committee called the Institutional Animal Care Committee (IACC). The IACC committee has representatives from inside and outside the university. The committee and the researchers in charge of the projects have to comply with the guidelines set down by a national body called the Canadian Council on Animal Care.
Animal Care Services report to the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) and the CCAC visit and inspect all animal care facilities in Canada on a regular basis.
Please note that there are videotapes on the biomedical research and its importance available from the Animal Care Services, Memorial University of Newfoundland mini library that can be obtained for viewing. Regarding viewing make contact through our general office.
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