Animal models play crucial roles in the continuum of experimental activities that make up biomedical research. Such in vivo modes are especially important in proof-of-principle experiments and in establishing the preclinical safety and efficacy data required for progressing to human clinical trials. A practical understanding of the choice, care and use of animal models is thus expected and required of all biomedical researchers. However, while both legislations and the practice of laboratory animal science have made great advances in the last decade and have impacted significantly on the use of animal models, this corpus of knowledge is not readily available in formats easily digestible to the average biomedical researcher. This book fills this gap in knowledge and provides material not easily sourced by the average biomedical researcher, such as current information on bioimaging, occupational health and biosafety, animal protocol design and histological-pathological support.

Animal models play crucial roles in the continuum of experimental activities that make up biomedical research. Such in vivo modes are especially important in proof-of-principle experiments and in establishing the preclinical safety and efficacy data required for progressing to human clinical trials. A practical understanding of the choice, care and use of animal models is thus expected and required of all biomedical researchers. However, while both legislations and the practice of laboratory animal science have made great advances in the last decade and have impacted significantly on the use of animal models, this corpus of knowledge is not readily available in formats easily digestible to the average biomedical researcher. This book fills this gap in knowledge and provides material not easily sourced by the average biomedical researcher, such as current information on bioimaging, occupational health and biosafety, animal protocol design and histological-pathological support.

This chapter presents an overview of ethical principles that are essential for the proper conduct, and the continuing progress, of animal research aimed at understanding human disease. The chapter identifies fundamental principles of animal research ethics, and discusses ethical and empirical foundations of these principles. Guidelines are offered for applying these fundamental principles in the design and implementation of animal research projects. The chapter highlights several important ethical issues regarding which the biomedical research community has expressed lack of clarity or disagreement, and suggests considerations that are relevant for resolution of these issues. Recommendations are offered for participation by investigators in ethical discussion of their work, and of biomedical animal research generally. The general themes of the chapter are that investigators play the primary role in assuring the ethical conduct of biomedical animal research, and that a crucial foundation of ethical animal research is sound science.

There is some talk about an antibiotic Armageddon, wherein untreatable post-operative infections and similarly untreatable complications after chemotherapy will occur. The now famous “O’Neill Report” suggests that, by 2050, more people could die from resistant bacterial infections than from cancer. We are still learning about all the subtle drivers of antibiotic resistance, realizing that we need a single “whole health” coordinated policy. We ingest what we sometimes feed to animals, yet there does not seem to be any new classes of antibiotics on the horizon. Maybe there is something that has been around forever that could could to our rescue: bacteriophages. Nevertheless, we have to do things differently. We must use antibiotics appropriately and for the correct indication, duration, and dosage with good practice and stewardship.. While by no means comprehensive, this book covers many topics regarding antibiotic stewardship. It also addresses older antibiotics, new combinations, and even new agents. Last but not least, this book features two excellent articles on bacteriophages. Refinements to animal models used in research for either human or animal benefit must be an ongoing aim for anyone working in this context, whether it be as an animal carrier, an animal user, a veterinarian, or an official. Unfortunately, the details of refinements are often overlooked in publications describing the research outcomes. This book includes manuscripts published in the Animals Special Issue “Refinements to Animal Models for Biomedical Research”. In this contemporary resource, we included 12 peer-reviewed papers that cover a range of approaches to the concept of refinement.