The Ethics of Animal use in Research | Courtney Bannerman | TEDxQueensU

Summary

This PhD researcher at Queen's University discusses the critical role of animal models in understanding the nervous and immune system interactions following spinal cord injuries. They address the ethical concerns and public misconceptions about animal testing, emphasizing the importance of the Three Rs (reduction, replacement, refinement) in research. The speaker advocates for a balanced view, acknowledging the indispensable contributions of animals to medical advancements while recognizing the need for humane and scientifically rigorous practices.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The speaker is pursuing a PhD at Queen's, focusing on interactions between the nervous and immune systems after spinal cord injuries to understand chronic pain and potential treatments.
• 🐭 The research uses a mouse model of spinal cord injury that closely mimics human spinal cord injury, though the use of animals in research is a sensitive topic.
• 📜 In 2019, the speaker responded to a negative article about animal research, arguing that while technology has advanced, animal research remains crucial for medical progress.
• 🏛️ Animal research in Canada is strictly regulated, requiring certification from the Canadian Animal Care Committee, which conducts surprise inspections to ensure compliance.
• 🔍 The three R's of animal research—Reduction, Replacement, and Refinement—guide the ethical use of animals, focusing on minimizing the number and suffering of animals used.
• ⚖️ Although alternative methods like computational modeling and 3D-printed organs are advancing, they cannot yet fully replace animal models for developing human therapeutics.
• 🧬 Shared large datasets and public databases are enhancing research, but cells in a dish or 3D-printed organs lack the complex interactions found in living organisms.
• 🤔 The speaker acknowledges the ethical debate around valuing human life over animal life but emphasizes the significant contributions animals make to biomedical research.
• 💊 Many medical advancements, such as treatments for multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and routine surgeries, were made possible through animal research.
• 🩺 The speaker's research aims to develop better treatments for chronic pain in spinal cord injury patients, contributing to improving their quality of life.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the researcher's PhD at Queen's?

The researcher's PhD focuses on the interactions between the nervous system and the immune system after spinal cord injury, specifically looking at how these interactions lead to chronic pain and potential ways to alter them for pain relief.

Why does the researcher use a mouse model for spinal cord injury?

The mouse model is used because it effectively mimics the human model of spinal cord injury, providing a valuable tool for studying the complex interactions and effects that lead to chronic pain.

What was the researcher's reaction to the article published in the Queen's Journal in February 2019?

The researcher felt that the article negatively depicted animal use in research, suggesting scientists were resistant to change and technological advancement, prompting the researcher to write a response piece.

What is the title of the researcher's response piece to the Queen's Journal article?

The title of the response piece is 'A Letter from a Queen's Researcher: Animal Testing is Unfairly Judged'.

Why did the researcher choose to publish the response piece anonymously?

The researcher chose to publish anonymously due to concerns about how people would receive the piece, as the topic of animal research can be controversial and uncomfortable.

What are the three R's of animal research mentioned in the script?

The three R's are Reduction, Replacement, and Refinement, which guide the ethical use of animals in research by minimizing the number of animals used, finding alternatives to animal use, and improving the welfare of animals involved in research.

What is the role of the Canadian Animal Care Committee in animal research?

The Canadian Animal Care Committee is responsible for granting and renewing certifications of good animal practice every three years, ensuring that institutions adhere to strict ethical and welfare standards in their use of animals for research.

How does the researcher address the criticism that technology has advanced past the need for animal research?

The researcher acknowledges technological advancements but points out that for creating therapeutics for human use, animals and their products cannot yet be completely replaced without hindering the research process.

What is the significance of the researcher's work in developing better therapeutics for spinal cord injury patients?

The researcher's work aims to provide better pain relief for spinal cord injury patients, who often suffer from chronic pain and have limited effective treatment options, by using a combination of computational modeling, cell and tissue culturing techniques, and a new mouse model of spinal cord injury.

How does the researcher balance the ethical considerations of using animals in research with the potential benefits to human health?

The researcher adheres to the three R's of animal research, uses the least sentient organisms possible for clinically relevant data, and supports the idea that supporting animal research doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing approach, allowing for selective support based on the type of research or critical evaluation of methods and conclusions.

What is the researcher's view on the importance of public and patient engagement in research?

The researcher believes that public and patient engagement is increasingly important, especially in uncomfortable topics like animal research, as it allows for a more informed stance and better understanding of the complexities involved.

Outlines

00:00

🧬 Ethical Debates on Animal Research in Medical Advancements

This paragraph delves into the ethical complexities surrounding animal research, particularly the speaker's use of mice models to study chronic pain post-spinal cord injury. It addresses public discomfort and opposition to animal testing, referencing a controversial article from the Queen's Journal and the author's anonymous response advocating for fair judgment of animal testing. The summary also touches on the importance of balanced discourse, the legislative framework governing animal research in Canada, and the principles of the 'Three Rs' (reduction, replacement, refinement) that guide ethical animal research practices.

05:00

💡 Advancements in Science and the Role of Animal Research

The second paragraph discusses the advancements in computational modeling, cell and tissue culturing, and data sharing within the scientific community. It emphasizes the limitations of these technologies in fully replacing animal models for human therapeutics research. The speaker argues that despite technological progress, animals remain integral to understanding complex biological systems and disease mechanisms. The paragraph also explores the challenges of organ interaction and systemic biology that current alternatives cannot replicate, and the importance of considering causation versus correlation in scientific findings.

10:01

🛑 The Impact and Necessity of Animal Research in Medical Breakthroughs

In this paragraph, the speaker highlights the significance of animal research in medical breakthroughs, citing the discovery of minocycline's effect on multiple sclerosis as a case study. They underscore the historical contributions of animal research to common treatments like insulin, painkillers, and antibiotics. The speaker advocates for a nuanced approach to supporting animal research, recognizing its necessity in certain areas while allowing for criticism and selective support based on the context of use. The paragraph concludes with a personal note on the speaker's motivation for using animal models in their research on spinal cord injury and chronic pain, aiming to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Keywords

💡PhD

PhD stands for Doctor of Philosophy and represents the highest academic degree awarded by universities in most fields of study. In the context of the video, the speaker is pursuing a PhD at Queen's, focusing on the interactions between the nervous and immune systems after spinal cord injury. The speaker's research aims to understand and potentially alleviate chronic pain, demonstrating the application of PhD research in advancing medical knowledge.

💡Nervous System

The nervous system is a complex network of nerves and cells responsible for transmitting signals between different parts of the body. It plays a crucial role in the video's theme as the speaker investigates how the nervous system interacts with the immune system post-spinal cord injury, highlighting the nervous system's involvement in chronic pain development.

💡Immune System

The immune system is a biological system that defends the body against disease and infections. In the video, the speaker's research explores the relationship between the immune system and the development of chronic pain following spinal cord injuries, emphasizing the immune system's role in pain management and recovery.

💡Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury refers to any damage to the spinal cord that results in a loss of function, such as mobility or sensation. The video discusses the speaker's use of a mouse model to mimic human spinal cord injuries, which is central to understanding the complex interactions leading to chronic pain and the potential for therapeutic interventions.

💡Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than the expected time for healing and often persists beyond the resolution of an injury or illness. The video's main theme revolves around understanding and addressing chronic pain that arises from spinal cord injuries, showcasing the significance of this condition in the speaker's research.

💡Mouse Model

A mouse model refers to the use of mice in scientific research to study biological processes or diseases, often as a proxy for human conditions. The speaker mentions a mouse model of spinal cord injury that effectively mimics the human condition, illustrating the importance of animal models in medical research.

💡Animal Research

Animal research involves the use of animals in scientific experiments to gain knowledge that can be applied to human health and disease. The video discusses the controversy and ethical considerations of animal research, as well as the speaker's personal involvement in using animal models for spinal cord injury studies.

💡Three Rs of Animal Research

The Three Rs of animal research are reduction, replacement, and refinement, which are ethical principles aimed at minimizing the use of animals in research. The video explains these principles as part of the regulatory framework governing animal research in Canada, showing the speaker's commitment to ethical research practices.

💡Sentience

Sentience refers to the capacity of an organism to have subjective experiences and feelings, particularly the ability to perceive and process the environment. The video uses the concept of sentience in the context of the Three Rs, emphasizing the importance of using the least sentient organisms in research to minimize ethical concerns.

💡Computational Modeling

Computational modeling is the use of computer simulations to study complex systems or problems that cannot be easily solved analytically. In the video, the speaker mentions computational modeling as one of the advanced techniques that, while helpful in reducing the number of animals used in research, cannot fully replace them due to their inability to replicate the complexity of biological systems.

💡Public Databases

Public databases are repositories of information accessible to the public, often used in scientific research to share and analyze large datasets. The video highlights the importance of public databases in scientific communities, where data from studies can be shared freely, allowing for further analysis and insights, such as gene expression levels in immune cells.

💡Causation vs. Correlation

Causation refers to a relationship where one event causes another, while correlation is a statistical association between two variables. The video discusses the importance of distinguishing between causation and correlation in research, as incorrect assumptions can lead to misguided treatments, emphasizing the need for rigorous scientific methodology.

Highlights

PhD research at Queen's University focuses on the interaction between the nervous and immune systems after spinal cord injury and its relation to chronic pain.

Investigating potential alterations to these interactions to provide pain relief for patients.

Utilization of a mouse model to mimic human spinal cord injury for research purposes.

The ethical debate surrounding the use of animals in medical research and its controversial nature.

Publication of an article in the Queen's Journal questioning the necessity of animal research and its reception.

Author's anonymous response piece arguing that animal testing is unfairly judged.

The importance of public and patient engagement in research and the need for balanced information.

Legislation behind animal research in Canada, including the requirement for a certification of good animal practice.

The role of the Canadian Animal Care Committee and its surprise inspections to ensure ethical treatment.

The three Rs of animal research: reduction, replacement, and refinement.

Technological advancements like computational modeling and cell culturing, and their limitations in replacing animal models.

The significance of sharing large datasets and public databases in scientific research.

The importance of considering causation versus correlation in scientific findings.

Ethical considerations of using animals in research and the concept of sentience in the replacement principle.

Examples of medical advancements made possible through animal research, such as treatments for multiple sclerosis and diabetes.

The author's personal motivation for using animals in their research on chronic pain post-spinal cord injury.

The impact of spinal cord injuries on various body systems and the prevalence of chronic pain among patients.

The development of a new mouse model by the author that more accurately represents human spinal cord injuries.

The acknowledgment of the limitations and difficulties of research, but the indispensable role of animal contributions.

Transcripts

so i'm doing my phd

here at queen's and i look at the

interactions in between the nervous

system

and the immune system after spinal cord

injury

how those interactions result in the

development of chronic pain

and how we can potentially alter those

interactions

to provide patients with pain relief in

my work

i use a mouse model of spinal cord

injury that does a really good job at

mimicking the human model of spinal cord

injury

although i usually don't tell people i

just met that last part

because although we owe almost all of

our medical

modern advancements to the use of

laboratory animals

their topic in research can be an

uncomfortable one for many people

and some are completely against their

use altogether

so in february of 2019 an article was

published in the queen's journal

titled the curtain on animal research at

queen's lifts and inch

i felt like it was a really negative

depiction

of animal use and research and it

suggested in a lot of ways that

scientists were

stuck in a rut and refused to adapt as

technology moved

forward and indeed if you look online

a lot of the journalism out there is

about how

we have advanced past the use of needing

animals

and a lot of people who do support

animal research don't like to be too

vocal and talk about it

because in the past themselves or their

families have been harmed or threatened

so i decided in march of 2019 to write

kind of a

response piece to this and i titled it

a letter from a queen's researcher

animal testing is unfairly judged

at the time i published the article

anonymously

and although i got a bunch of different

friends from a variety of different

backgrounds to read it over

and we had some really insightful

discussions about it i was a little bit

nervous about how people would receive

it

some liked it and others weren't such of

a

big fan a lot of people thought again

technology has advanced we don't need

animals in research anymore

some thought that animal research was

cruel and pointless and others thought

that

it just wasn't right for us to subject

animals to this use

when there's alternatives

so i think that even though animal

research is one of those uncomfortable

topics it's a little bit

one of those ethically gray areas it's

important for us to talk about it

because how can all of you make an

informed stance

on it if you are only given one side of

the story

and i think in a time where there's

increased public and patient engagement

in research

this is becoming ever more important

so let's begin by talking about the

legislation behind annual research

so if you are a researcher or a

university

in canada and you would like to use

animals in any capacity

this does include animal testing but it

also includes

animal observation or if you're using

them to train professionals like

training veterinarians or veterinary

technicians you must obtain

a certification of good animal practice

from the canadian animal care committee

and

this committee gives its certification

out and every three years it must be

renewed

and how it gets renewed is that the

canadian animal care committee will come

to the

institution on a surprise visit so

there's no tweaking things beforehand

and they will inspect every room and

they'll look at all the products being

used

and potentially any animals on study

and each university also has their own

animal care committee

but this committee is primarily

concerned with

the protocols and procedures that will

be happening on site or in direct

affiliation with the university

and animal care committees are composed

of a variety of different peoples from

different

backgrounds there are researchers who do

use animals in their work

as well as laboratory technicians who

deal with the day-to-day care of animals

and the university's head veterinarian

but there's also researchers

who don't use animals in their work at

all or commit

community members who have no

affiliation

to the university these protocols are

approved based on the three r's of

animal research

which are reduction replacement and

refinement

reduction is reducing the number of

animals you would need in your study

and also being able to justify why you

need the animal numbers that you do

replacement can be either replacing your

laboratory animal with an inanimate

system like a computational modeling

system

or it could be replacing your animal

with a less sentient version

and sentience has to do with how

organisms can perceive and process the

environment around them

so an example of this is replacing maybe

a laboratory rat

with a snail or a fish or an insect

and refinement has to do with altering

the process itself

to ensure the model organism is

minimized in the amount of discomfort

and pain it experiences

and the animal care committee each

person must be

okay with the protocol that gets

approved so it's not a situation where

one person can just be overpowered by

everyone else on the committee

so another common comment i commonly get

is that technology has advanced to a

point where we just don't need animals

anymore

and don't get me wrong there's been some

phenomenal advancements with

computational modeling

and cell and tissue culturing techniques

and but the issue is if we want to

create therapeutics for human use

we are not yet at a point where animals

and their products can be completely cut

out of the research process

without it greatly hindering things

another amazing advancement that's been

happening

is that scientific groups and

communities have moved towards sharing

their large data sets

as well as creating public databases for

people to use free of cost

so let's say for example there's a group

out there

who's particularly interested in gene

changes that happen

in immune cells after spinal cord injury

perhaps they obtain some blood samples

from spinal cord injury patients

and they run an analysis on it and they

get a huge amount of data

when they're ready to publish their

findings in a scientific journal

they have to release the entirety of the

data set

to the public for anyone to use i could

for then i could download this data set

maybe i run a different analysis

and pick out a couple different gene

targets

i could then move to a different public

database

one of which is called imgen and see

what the gene expression levels

are in up to 85 different immune cells

could then head back to my lab and use

cultured cell lines to see

if i alter the gene expression of this

immune cell how does that activity of

the cell change

some labs even have the equipment to 3d

print

small organs so we can see how the organ

as a total will change

but of course all of these techniques do

a great job at reducing the number of

organisms we need because before we even

move into a disease model

we might have already eliminated a

couple targets of interest

or maybe we have a better idea of the

disease mechanism itself

but the issue is cells in a petri dish

lack the overall organ architecture

which in some diseases can be super

important

and a 3d printed organ lacks the

interactions that happen

with other organs we are not just a

collection

of a bunch of organisms or a bunch of

organs really close together

all our organs communicate with one

another and the circulatory and immune

system play a huge role

another issue is that each one of our

cells

contains the exact same copy of dna

and this means that different cell types

could express the same genes or produce

the same proteins

so that's sometimes why when there are

new drugs or new therapeutics you see

off-targeted effects that you didn't

originally think would happen

another important thing to consider is

causation force versus correlation

so what do i mean by this maybe you took

some blood samples

from patients with and without chronic

low back pain

and maybe in your chronic low back pain

population you saw an increased level of

a certain protein

you cannot assume that that increase of

protein

is what's causing people's pain and it's

not ethical to then medicate your

patients to lower that protein level

which then kind of brings us to a

trickier criticism of animal research

which is how can you say that the life

of a human

is more important than the life of an

animal

so going back to the three r's of animal

research

sentience which is in the replacement

are

can refer to the ability of an organism

to sense the environment around it and

process it

and it's a very delicate balance of

using the least sentient organism

possible

but still being able to get clinically

relevant data

so science has to a certain extent

created a hierarchy

of organism life

and even though there are differences

between humans and animals

animals are still contributing massively

to the biomedical science process

for example a recent development out of

the university of calgary

it has been that they found that if you

give ms patients or multiple sclerosis

patients

minocycline which is a common acne

medication

after their first ms event they will

reduce by half

the rate that they could go on to

develop chronic ms

and this is a huge finding for canada

because in canada we have one of the

highest rates of ms in the world

so this finding has done a great job of

improving the quality of life of

thousands of people

and would not have been possible without

the mouse model of multiple sclerosis

and also if you're a diabetic who's ever

taken insulin

or maybe an advil or an aspirin or you

went in for a routine surgery

and had to was prescribed antibiotics or

painkillers

you have animal research to thank

because of that

and the reality is scientists at this

time are just using the best models that

they have available

if a non-animal model was to come along

that was as good as or better than the

animal models that we currently use

science would move to adapt to use that

one

but at this point we don't have those

models available for a lot of diseases

and at the end of the day it's okay if

you're uncomfortable with animal

research

it's a very uncomfortable topic but

supporting animal research doesn't need

to be an all or nothing approach

you can support the use of animals in

biomedical research

but maybe you don't support their use in

cosmetic research

or you can read a scientific journal

article and be really critical

about the methods that they used or the

conclusions that they drew from their

study

but making generalized blanket

statements like

all animal research is barbaric and

unnecessary

is simply untrue so why do i

use animals in my work so like i

mentioned i study chronic pain that

develops after a spinal cord injury

and in the province of ontario 11 people

each week

will suffer from a spinal cord injury

and for each one of these patients it

will take them approximately two to

three years

to stabilize and when they do finally

stabilize

they are often faced with a whole host

of medical complications

even though the trauma itself is to the

central nervous system

many different body systems can be

affected

for example heart rate breathing blood

pressure the digestive system the

urinary tract system

movement the musculoskeletal system and

mental health can all be affected

and for sixty to eighty percent of these

patients they will go on to develop

chronic pain

and at this point doctors don't really

have a lot of effective treatments to

offer this population

and of the treatments that they do have

available many of them

do not lower the patient's pain to a

rate where they can

live a healthy productive life that they

would like to live

so through the use of computational

modeling

cell and tissue culturing techniques

microbiome analysis

and a new mouse model of spinal cord

injury that i developed

that more accurately mimics a human

spinal cord injury

i hope to go on to help develop better

therapeutics to offer these patients

some pain relief

and at the end of the day i know my

research will be difficult

and it will of course have limitations

to it but i know that people would not

be able to live the quality of life that

they currently do

without the irreplaceable contribution

of many laboratory animals over the

years

thank you

you