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About PSBR The Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research (PSBR) was established by universities, medical schools, pharmaceutical firms, and professional societies in the Commonwealth to foster a better understanding of the benefits of biomedical research to human and animal health, as well as the necessity for the humane treatment of animals in such research. The society supports the responsible use of animals for essential medical research and education in the prevention and treatment of human and animal diseases. The PSBR strongly supports the continued role of animals in research when no reliable alternative exists. Goal The goal of the PSBR is to educate Pennsylvanians about biomedical research and the importance of using animals to improve the health and well being of both humans and animals. The society and its members seek to assure all that strict laws, regulations, and professional standards govern the use and treatment of laboratory animals. We are dedicated to informing people that these laws are being ethically and responsibly followed in research laboratories throughout the Commonwealth. Who Benefits from Animal Research? The director of the National Institutes of Health has said that virtually every major medical advance in the past century has depended upon studies involving laboratory animals. These advances include: vaccines for the prevention of measles, mumps, polio, and hepatitis. prevention and treatment of cancer. antibiotics to treat infectious diseases. organ transplants. heart and vascular surgery. medications for high blood pressure, arthritis, and mental illness. Furthermore, animal care and health continue to advance as a result of biomedical research. Experiments with animals led to discoveries that prevent and treat diseases among pet, farm, laboratory, and wild animals. Some examples include: vaccines against distemper, rabies, feline leukemia virus, and parvovirus. treatments for cancer. new techniques for traumas and surgery. antibiotics to treat infections. prevention and treatment for dog heartworm. What Kinds of Animls are Used in Medical Research? More than 90 percent of animals used in research are rats and mice bred specifically for that purpose by licensed suppliers. Large animals such as pigs, cattle, and sheep are supplied from agricultural sources. Dogs, cats rabbits and non-human primates usually come from scientific breeding centers. Can Animals be Replaced? Some alternatives to animal testing are providing faster results at lower costs. These include bacteria and cell cultures, chemical tests, computer models, and advanced statistical methods. Utilization of these methods and better analysis of test results have helped to reduce the number of animals needed for many experiments. Researchers avoid the use of animals when it is possible to do so and they continue to search for alternative methods. However, the use of animals remains an essential part of biomedical science because nothing can substitute for the complex functions of the whole living animal. New drugs, vaccines, and surgical procedures must still be evaluated in animals before they can be used on human patients. Benefits of Animal Research HUMANS ANIMALS Vaccine Development Diptheria Hepatitis Lyme Disease Measles Polio Rabies Rubella Tetanus Whooping Cough Anthrax Blue Tongue in Sheep Brucelossis in Cattle Distemper in Dogs and Cats Equine Encephalitis Equine Rhino Virus Equine Influenza Feline Leukemia Hog Cholera Infectious Hepatitis in Dogs Lyme Disease Newcastle Disease in Poultry Parvo Virus in Dogs Pneumonia Complex in Cats Potomac Horse Fever Rabies Tetanus Research AIDS Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Birth Defects Blindness Burns Cancer Diarrhea in Infants Diabetes Emphysema Epilepsy Glaucoma Heart Disease Huntingdon's Disease Multiple Sclerosis Muscular Dystrophy New Drug Development Nutrition Open Heart Surgery Parkinson's Disease Spinal Cord Injury Tooth and Gum Disease Allergies Artificial Insemination Improved Pain Killers Embryo Transfer Techniques Inherited Diseases Pet Food Nutrition Tooth and Gum Disease Treatment Allergies Anesthesia Antibiotics Artificial Joint Replacement Birth Defects Cancer Childhood Poisonings Diabetes Emphysema High Blood Pressure Kidney Disease Malaria Organ Transplants Stroke Antibiotics Artificial Joints for Dogs Blood Transfusions Cataracts Glaucoma Kidney Transplants Lameness in Horses Pet Cancer Orthopedic Surgery Vitamin Deficiency Diseases Parasites Giardiasis Heartworm Hookworm External Parasites Leptospirosis Contact PSBR at: (717) 731-3557 (717) 731-3506 FAX This WebSite2 is maintained by John Ellis (psbr@psbr.org) Please mail all comments and suggestions to him. ©2009; Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research.