4. Going Above and Beyond the Standards

01/26/20 • 22 min

Lab Rat Chat - Episode 04 with Dr. Helen Diggs, Senior Director of AAALAC International

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In this fourth episode of Lab Rat Chat, Jeff and Danielle talk with Dr. Helen Diggs about why this organization has been so critical to the continued evolution of animal care and use standards. Listen and find out about some of the amazing efforts institutions put forth in order to obtain this voluntary accreditation.
Topics discussed in this episode:

Dr. Helen Diggs' interesting background working in Alaska, which involved working with polar bears and wolves!
The role of AAALAC International
A brief overview of the process to obtain AAALAC International accreditation
Common findings during AAALAC International triennial site visit assessments

Notable quotes:

“It was an amazing introduction to veterinary medicine, they cared for a wide variety of species - wolves, lemmings, a polar bear, arctic foxes, and they studied diseases that are widespread in the Alaskan animal population...”

“AAALAC International promotes the responsible treatment and care of animals used in science through a voluntary, rigorous assessment and accreditation program. ”

“Accredited institutions understand that meritorious, reproducible science depends on superb, consistent animal care. ”

Resources & Links:

Americans for Medical Progress (https://www.amprogress.org/)
AAALAC International (https://www.aaalac.org)
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (https://olaw.nih.gov/policies-laws/phs-policy.htm)
Animal Welfare Act (https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/animal-welfare-act)

All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/

Support the show

Send us a text

Lab Rat Chat - Episode 04 with Dr. Helen Diggs, Senior Director of AAALAC International

Dr. Helen Diggs' interesting background working in Alaska, which involved working with polar bears and wolves!
The role of AAALAC International
A brief overview of the process to obtain AAALAC International accreditation
Common findings during AAALAC International triennial site visit assessments

Notable quotes:

“AAALAC International promotes the responsible treatment and care of animals used in science through a voluntary, rigorous assessment and accreditation program. ”

“Accredited institutions understand that meritorious, reproducible science depends on superb, consistent animal care. ”

Resources & Links:

Americans for Medical Progress (https://www.amprogress.org/)
AAALAC International (https://www.aaalac.org)
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (https://olaw.nih.gov/policies-laws/phs-policy.htm)
Animal Welfare Act (https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/animal-welfare-act)

All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/

Support the show

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3. Why Scientists Must Use Animals in Research

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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 03 with Dr. Stephen Beebe, a cancer research scientist at Old Dominion University.
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In this third episode of Lab Rat Chat, Jeff and Danielle talk to a research scientist, Dr. Stephen, about his research and how and why it requires the use of animals. Stephen conducts cancer research trying to find cures, and even vaccines, for various types of cancer. This has real impacts for both humans and our beloved pets, and I think Stephen illustrates some really fascinating points regarding the use of animals in research that you’ve never thought about before.
Topics discussed in this episode:

Dr. Stephen’s extensive background in research and how he has used animals to conduct a wide variety of types of science
His role as both a research scientist and the Chair of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
The type of research he is currently conducting and how bioelectrics may be a potential cure and vaccine to treat and prevent cancer, including breast cancer and melanoma
The importance of continuing to use animals in research
Whether or not there is potential to discontinue the use of research animals in our near or distant future

Notable quotes:

“When we do euthanize an animal, we try to be sure that we get maximum use from the tissues.”

“We place them in a cage with a heating pad under it so they stay warm...and we have treats in the cage and one thing I’ve always noticed when an animal comes out of anesthesia, the first thing they do is start chewing on those little treats.”

“We actually began this with simulation and modeling...then we used cells in culture...and then the next step that needed to be taken was to go to animals. So, we had a lot of information before we went to animals in terms of how to do this, so we minimized the number of animals needed.”

Resources & Links:

Americans for Medical Progress (https://www.amprogress.org/)
AAALAC International (https://www.aaalac.org)
PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (https://olaw.nih.gov/policies-laws/phs-policy.htm)
Animal Welfare Act (https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/animal-welfare-act)

All Lab Rat Chat episodes are edited by Audionauts: https://audionauts.pro/

Support the show

Next Episode

5. Seeing New Perspectives

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Lab Rat Chat - Episode 05 with Dr. Rick Born, Professor of Neurobiology at Harvard University and member of Society for Neuroscience
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In this episode of Lab Rat Chat, Jeff and Danielle's conversation with Dr. Born delves into a variety of topics including amazing medical discoveries and even advances in everyday technology that have come from animal research. Dr. Born talks about the role of The Society for Neuroscience in promoting responsible animal research as well as their resources to help protect their members facing opposition from animal rights groups.
Topics discussed in this episode:

Dr. Rick Born’s journey through medical school and beyond, leading to his current position at Harvard University.
Information on The Society for Neuroscience and their role in advancing science and promoting responsible animal research
Amazing contributions to medicine and technology attributed to the use of animals in research
The basics of Dr. Born’s research of the visual system and why this requires the use of non-human primates in order to help us understand vision
An introduction to our listeners about some of the various levels of extremism researchers have faced from animal rights groups
Ways the research community can continue to improve in furthering the trust of the public

Notable quotes:

“It’s important for ordinary people to see that scientists are also ordinary people. We have wives and children, and dogs for pets, and we live in your neighborhood. We believe that what we’re doing is important and justified and humane.”

“Again, it goes to show how deep and necessary animal research is to the entire biomedical enterprise, and not limited to humans, but including the benefits that go to our pets as well.”

“All the software that recognizes you when you’re on Facebook, when you post a picture to Facebook...it recognizes you because it’s using algorithms that were directly patterned after what we’ve learned about vision from the Macaque [monkey] visual system.”

Resources & Links: