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有记录的虐待是建立《纽伦堡守则》、《赫尔辛基宣言》和保护生物医学和行为研究人类对象国家委员会以及由此产生的贝尔蒙报告的动力。虽然人类研究值得继续关注，但目前的指导方针相当标准化，旨在保护人类研究参与者的个人利益。相比之下，还没有类似的、全面的和有原则的努力来解决在研究中使用动物的问题。尽管已公布的关于动物研究的政策提供了相关的监管指导，但由于缺乏探索在研究中使用动物的伦理问题和原则的根本努力，导致政策不明确和不同。此外，最近对动物认知和情感的研究表明，动物经历各种伤害(如疼痛和恐惧)的能力比以前认识到的更大。鉴于这些信息，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公开、有条不紊的道德评估，包括对现有法规的系统审查和批判性评估。该项目包括一系列关于在研究中使用动物的科学、伦理、法律和历史问题的循序渐进的重点会议、出版物和相应的研究。调查人员将与其他学者合作，找出知识差距，并规划出未来的研究途径，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公布，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对动物进行更完善和适当的保护。

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.