Because of competition for scarce research funding, only the highest priority projects are undertaken. Most animals experience no or only minimal pain or brief discomfort in research. Nearly all research, approximately 94 percent, either does not involve pain or uses analgesics or anesthesia. However, some research, about six percent, involves some pain to animal, primarily in the area of pain research itself. Pain is a significant medical problem and work continues into drugs and treatments to help alleviate the effects of arthritis, headaches, cancer and angina, for example.
Researchers are no different from other people in their attitudes toward animals.
Scientists are concerned about their research animals, both for humane reasons and because healthy test animals are necessary for valid research results. Stressed animals don t yield reliable data. In addition to humane considerations, it is in the scientist s best interest to ensure the well-being of his or her research animals. That is why researchers are constantly looking for ways to provide enrichment for animals in their care. However, they can not give us definitive assessment as to how substances will interact in complex organisms.