Developing Standardized Policies: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Factors Relevant to Ethical Considerations Regarding the Use of Animals in Research

对人类研究环境的批评和对人类研究对象的虐待记录推动了《纽伦堡法典》、《赫尔辛基宣言》和保护生物医学和行为研究人类受试者国家委员会的建立，并产生了贝尔蒙特报告。虽然人类研究值得继续关注，但目前的指导方针是相当标准化的，旨在保护研究中人类参与者的个人利益。相比之下，没有类似的、全面的和有原则的努力来解决在研究中使用动物的问题。尽管关于动物研究的公开政策提供了相关的监管指导，但缺乏对研究中使用动物的伦理问题和原则进行探索的基本努力，导致了政策不明确和不同。此外，最近对动物认知和情感的研究表明，动物经历一系列伤害的能力，如疼痛和恐惧，比以前认为的要大。根据这些信息，目前对动物的研究保护值得关注和重新考虑。该项目建立了一个调查系列，允许对有关在研究中使用动物的问题进行开放、系统、道德的评估，包括对现有法规的系统审查和批判性评估。该项目包括一系列重点会议、出版物，以及对研究中使用动物的科学、伦理、法律和历史问题的相应研究。研究人员将与其他学者合作，确定知识差距，并规划未来的研究途径，以完善现有的指导方针。该项目涉及跨学科和多机构的学术合作。结果将在相关的伦理、科学、法律和医学出版物上报告，有关过程和审议的细节将在科学界和公众中传播。更广泛的影响可能包括更完善和适当的动物保护。

Criticism of the human research environment and recorded abuses of human research subjects served as the impetus for the establishment of the Nuremberg Code, the Declaration of Helsinki, and the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research and resulting Belmont Report. While human research deserves continued attention, current guidelines are fairly standardized and aim to protect the individual interests of human participants in research. In contrast, no similar, comprehensive and principled effort has addressed the use of animals in research. Although published policies regarding animal research provide relevant regulatory guidance, the lack of a fundamental effort to explore the ethical issues and principles regarding the use of animals in research has led to unclear and disparate policies. Furthermore, recent studies of animal cognition and emotion suggest that animals' capacities for experiencing a wide range of harms, such as pain and fear, are greater than previously appreciated. In light of this information, current research protections for animals deserve attention and reconsideration. This project establishes an investigative series allowing for open, methodical, ethical evaluation of questions concerning the use of animals in research, including a systematic review and critical evaluation of existing regulations. The project includes a progressive series of focused meetings, publications, and corresponding study of the scientific, ethical, legal and historical issues governing the use of animals in research. Investigators will work with other scholars to identify knowledge gaps and map out future avenues for research to refine existing guidelines. The project involves interdisciplinary and multi-institutional academic collaboration. Results will be reported in relevant ethical, scientific, legal, and medical publications, and details about the process and deliberation will be disseminated among the scientific community and general public. Broader impact could include more refined and appropriate protections for animals.