BiomedicalEngineeringSchoolsInstitute for Laboratory Animal Research
The Institute for Laboratory Animal Research exists within the National Academy of Sciences. Their mission is to "evaluate and disseminate information on issues related to the scientific, technological, and ethical use of animals and related biological resources in research, testing, and education;" addressing concerns of animal rights and the necessity or viability of vivisection.
The group considers its core values to be support for "the responsible use of animals in research, testing and education as a key component to advancing the health and quality of life of humans and animals"; "refinement, replacement, and reduction and high ethical standards"; and fostering "best practices that enhance human and animal welfare . . . by facilitating dialogue."
According to its FAQ, the ILAR uses committee reports, its journal, and online resources to advise the federal government, the world's biomedical researchers, and the public on issues concerning humane animal care and use in lab environments, as well as where alternatives can be used in their place. ILAR uses boards to achieve many of their goals, which meet several times a year and serve to help unify viewpoints and make statements of task and purpose, among other things.
The ILAR's council is made up of 15 individuals, many of whom hold substantial titles at other institutions. The current chair, Stephen Barthold, is director at the Center for Comparative Medicine at the University of California—Davis; other members include Kathryn Bayne, senior director of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International, and Judy MacArthur Clark, chief inspector of London's Animals in Scientific Procedures Inspectorate. Other members are involved in veterinary studies, bioscience, and animal science, or are representatives of large pharmaceutical manufacturers such as GlaxoSmithKline and Abbott Laboratories.
The ILAR publishes 60 to 70 reports per year, a quarterly Journal, and several other major documents on a regular basis. Each journal functions around a specific topic—for example, Volume 51, Number 4 is titled "Birds as Animal Models in the Behavioral and Neural Sciences" and includes articles on just that, with discussions on bird studies, then specific studies, such as discussions of acoustic trauma repair as pertains to hair cell regeneration in birds, studies of barn owl learning and auditory processing, and several pieces on songbirds and birdsong.
On its website, the ILAR provides a number of resources for people involved in animal research. It includes search engines to help users find animal models and strains, links to find information on animal diseases, and a handful of ways to get information on animal laboratories. Their online resources also include an e-Journal, which has exclusive content not otherwise included in the print version of the publication.
The ILAR also maintains the International Laboratory Code Registry, which allows individuals to look up DNA markers, animal strains, and mutations, as well as aberrations and transgenes based on a four-character code, and information on how to submit these codes and the rules and regulations behind them. This database is extensive and fully accessible to the public, making it a hugely useful resource for individuals attempting to get information on institutions and those presently conducting research.
Past ILAR reports include documents such as Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Scientific and Humane Issues in the Use of Random Source Dogs and Cats, and Recognition and Alleviation of Pain in Laboratory Animals, among others. One can purchase these reports either in paperback or in Adobe's PDF formats, or simply read the report's main points and key findings on each report's synopsis.
Additional Resources:
ILAR Lab Code Registry: A searchable index of lab codes, as well as a link to its rules and regulations.
ILAR Studies in Progress: A list of studies currently being conducted by the ILAR. Each page breaks down into a statement of task, analysis of progress, and list of events conducted.
The National Academies: The parent site to ILAR gives one easy access to many other organizations within the National Academies, offering similarly styled reports on many topics.
ILAR Journal: A separate site offering PDFs and sales of hard copies of back issues of the ILAR journal.
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: The titular ILAR guide, made available online by the National Acadamies Press.