Öbrink Memorial Lecture: The Age of Biology: Opportunities and Challenges for Laboratory Animal Medicine

Abstract

As the world wrestles with the fact of genetic engineering and specifically with research involving genetically engineered animals, laboratory animal scientists are in a position to identify the issues and propose ways to address them. One ofthe issues raised by such research is the greater unpredictability of adverse effects. Because assessment of adverse effects is critical to evaluation of the cost and benefit of proposed research, development of a paradigm for review and monitoring of such research is ofhigh priority. The paradigm developed at the University of Washington that applies Jonsen’s easuistry grid in conjunction with surveillance systems for early identification of unanticipated adverse effects is based on established principles and provides a structured approach to evaluation of the factors involved. Application and further development of this paradigm give laboratory animal scientists yet another opportunity to use their training, experience, and position to address the concerns of animal research, bioethics, and the public good.