Many of our members conduct research ranging from cells to whole organisms and animals. Critical to this type of scientific investigation is maintaining responsible care for the use of animals in research. We believe that installing a template system that assigns specific research procedures to specific pain and distress categories would not enhance the stewardship of animals nor would it promote the research enterprise. While some guidelines may be appropriate and helpful, including such definitions would place an unnecessary regulatory burden on institutions.
Distress is caused by many factors and even allows animals to adapt to their environment.
No single or combination of criteria can determine when an animal experiencing stress becomes distressed or pained. Federal regulations should not discourage scientific research. Future scientific achievements based on genomics will significantly increase the usage of animals, particularly rodents.