HYDERABAD: Underlining the need for refining experimental protocols on animal research to reduce the distress in them, the Chairman of the Animal Welfare Board of India, R.M. Kharb, suggested that research institutes should explore alternative methods in bio-technology, which do not require the use of animals.

"It is mandatory for the research institutes involved in animal research to justify the use of animals and treat them humanely," he said.

He was speaking at the first national conference on `Rational Use of Animals in Research' jointly organised by the new Laboratory Animal Scientist Association of India (LASA), Indian Pharmacological Society, the Centre for Advanced Research in Preclinical Toxicology and National Institute of Nutrition at Indian Institute of Chemical Technology here on Wednesday.

Alternative

Lowest forms of organisms in phylogenetic scale such as mice and rats, micro organisms, plants, eggs, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates could be used instead of higher vertebrates and warm-blooded animals such as dogs and monkeys as they were capable of experiencing pain, he suggested.

Detailing the guidelines under Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA), he made it clear that it was the responsibility of the research institute to take care of the animal if it got paralysed or handicapped during the experiments.

According to Drugs Controller General of India, there are 100 international and 300 national drug trials going on in various research institutes in the country.

Industry estimates point out that by 2010, the clinical trials market will increase to about 2 billion US dollars.

Regulation

"In the increasing demand for the animal models for experimentation, it has become much more important for the regulatory body to keep a tab on animal research. Things have definitely improved in the last two to three years. However, there still is a lot of work that has to be done," he added.

The inaugural session was also attended by Vice-Chancellor S.V. Veterinary University, Manmohan Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Karnataka State Veterinary University R. N. Srinivas Gowda, Director, National Institute of Nutrition B. Sesikeran among others.

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