Moving Toward Nonanimal Approaches in Medical Research and Testing

Moving Toward Nonanimal Approaches in Medical Research and Testing pioneers a single-source guide for researchers regarding nonanimal research tools and methodologies and their many advantages and applications in place of animals. This book is presented in three parts: historical, ethical, legislative, and scientific contexts on the need to shift away from animal-based research and testing; the latest advances in nonanimal tools and methods for biomedical research and testing of human therapeutics and other compounds, including microphysiological systems, bioprinting, biobanks, and artificial intelligence; and achieving a practical shift toward these powerful approaches, including advocacy for legal, regulatory, and policy change, securing funding for nonanimal studies, and how to overcome bias against nonanimal methods. This book, primarily directed to researchers in biomedicine, human medical therapeutics, and toxicology, will also appeal to researchers in industry, providing overview and insights about the latest applications of nonanimal research tools and methods for product development and testing. Clinicians who wish to understand the reliability of testing therapeutics with nonanimal versus animal methods, as well as advocacy groups seeking an up-to-date understanding of ethical, economic, political, and scientific considerations in moving toward nonanimal approaches, will also find significant value in this text. Finally, legislators and those involved in regulatory review and oversight will benefit from this single comprehensive source for developing a basic understanding of nonanimal research and human safety.

• Presents an overview of historical, ethical, and scientific issues regarding animal and nonanimal research and testing approaches
• Delivers the latest in nonanimal experimental advances and applications
• Provides practical guidance about overcoming funding, publication, and other hurdles for researchers using nonanimal approaches
• Discusses legislative, policy, and advocacy approaches to advancing nonanimal approaches

Gail A. Van Norman is a Professor Emeritus of the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. She is an academic clinician/ethicist who has spent over 35 years in clinical practice and published a number of articles regarding the ethics and back ground of animal research, as well as regula tory issues in pharmaceutical research and the failure of animal studies to provide effec tive scientific translation to human medicine. Her reviews of animal and nonanimal research published in JACC Basic to Translational Science have been among the most highly read, downloaded, and cited articles throughout the journal’s history. She has been an invited speaker at national and international meetings regarding the issues of animal research and translational science failures.

Catharine E. Krebs, PhD, is a medical research program manager at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, where she engages with US policymakers to advance human-centered research and reduce animal use. She has authored numer ous congressional statements and public comments to federal agencies. She is a Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics and leads the Coalition to Illuminate and Address Animal Methods Bias. An invited speaker at national and international meetings, she reg ularly presents on research policy and advancing nonanimal scientific approaches. She earned her PhD in human genetics from the University of California, Los Angeles.