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UVa researchers accused of animal neglect lose privileges

 

From Emily Hemphill, DailyProgress.com, June 7, 2024

Two researchers at the University of Virginia had their animal-handling privileges suspended after reports showed they regularly neglected their own protocols and harmed multiple animals on federally funded projects.

The pair, whose names have not been released, had their animal-handling privileges suspended for 30 days after the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee found that they repeatedly violated a number of standard operating procedures during their experiments.

The committee, which oversees the welfare of animals used in research, testing and education in the U.S., found that the UVa researchers failed to keep adequate scientific records, monitor the welfare of animals post-operation or provide pain relief medication to a rat and three mice.

With the 30-day suspension ended, the pair will be required to take additional training and monitor policies before having their animal-handling privileges restored.

The punishment, however, has not satisfied all animal rights activists.

Stop Animal Exploitation Now, an Ohio-based national watchdog that opposes the use of animals in any form of research, is calling on UVa President Jim Ryan to enact more severe consequences.

“It is quite clear that due to the nature of the violations this punishment was not severe enough,” Michael Budkie, the group’s co-founder and executive director, wrote in a letter to Ryan dated June 3. “Instead, the animal use privileges of these individuals should have been revoked permanently, because anyone who is this incapable of following federal regulations should never be allowed to work with animals again.

Stop Animal Exploitation Now, an Ohio-based national watchdog that opposes the use of animals in any form of research, is calling on UVa President Jim Ryan to enact more severe consequences.

“It is quite clear that due to the nature of the violations this punishment was not severe enough,” Michael Budkie, the group’s co-founder and executive director, wrote in a letter to Ryan dated June 3. “Instead, the animal use privileges of these individuals should have been revoked permanently, because anyone who is this incapable of following federal regulations should never be allowed to work with animals again.

Stop Animal Exploitation Now, an Ohio-based national watchdog that opposes the use of animals in any form of research, is calling on UVa President Jim Ryan to enact more severe consequences.

“It is quite clear that due to the nature of the violations this punishment was not severe enough,” Michael Budkie, the group’s co-founder and executive director, wrote in a letter to Ryan dated June 3. “Instead, the animal use privileges of these individuals should have been revoked permanently, because anyone who is this incapable of following federal regulations should never be allowed to work with animals again.”

“It’s not just a criticism of researchers; it’s a criticism of UVa not monitoring individuals and not training them properly,” said Budkie. “The idea that a project could be done this poorly, that those performing don’t even know what’s supposed to be happening, it’s very much a non sequitur.”
“It also indicates that, the way this research is being done, it has very little to do with science. How do you perform an experience and not keep track of records?” he added.

In a prepared statement, UVa spokeswoman Bethanie Glover told The Daily Progress that UVa reports all compliance issues to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee as well as other federal entities, which then issue a final corrective action plan.

“The University takes its responsibility for the care and use of animals seriously. UVA is an educational environment, so in all cases such as these we work to train and educate individuals with animal handling responsibilities so that rare compliance issues are not repeated,” Glover said. “UVA is committed to quality care for animals in our research facilities, with an Office of Animal Welfare and many relevant accreditations to support and enforce that dedication.

While the university may consider the matter resolved, the letter Budkie sent to Ryan demanded a response, within five days, to his appeal to permanently revoke the two researchers’ animal-handling privileges. He’s skeptical he will hear back.

Budkie said his organization is prepared to bring the fight to the source of such projects: the federal agencies that provide the funding, such as the National Institute of Health, National Science Foundation and, depending on the subject matter, the Department of Defense.

The group will begin to determine whether there are other areas of noncompliance with the university’s research branch in order to substantiate the claim that the recent animal abuse is a result of a systemic problem. Such an allegation could cause UVa to lose millions in federal grants as well as its animal welfare assurance.

In terms of funding, the university has a lot to lose. In 2023, the National Institute of Health increased its financial support of the UVa School of Medicine by almost $20 million, bringing the total to $174.2 million. As large as that sum is, the figure does not represent all of the unrestricted federal dollars allocated to medical research, the field that dominates animal-based studies, according to Budkie.

Every research institute designates an indirect cost level to address any expenses a federal grant may not cover. Budkie said levels are rarely below 50%; he’s even seen them exceed 100% of the grant. With that in mind, he estimates that animal-based research at UVa could be receiving upwards of $85 million annually.

“That explains why it’s defended so strenuously, it has nothing to do with science,” he said. “Bringing in research dollars in the current economic environment is a way that a university gets things like raises and new staff, because so much of that funding is unrestricted. It’s not about anything other than funding.”

Though the general public may not share the same concerns as Budkie or Stop Animal Exploitation Now for the welfare of lab mice, Budkie said he still believes people have a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent.

“Even if you don’t care about the animals, people should be concerned about this,” he said. “This is where their money is going.”

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