Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Associated Press
University of New Mexico President David Schmidly on Tuesday
appointed a committee to review animal research polices and procedures
at the university.
UNM has come under fire for experiments in which mice were hung by
their tails with adhesive tape, subjected to electrical shocks and
forced to swim until nearly drowning. The Albuquerque Journal reported
on the experiments conducted in 2003 and 2004 in a story published
last month.
News of the experiments also prompted Gov. Bill Richardson to ask
universities across the state to review their protocols that govern
lab research on animals.
Schmidly said the committee will be chaired by Joanna Prukop,
secretary of the state Department of Energy, Minerals and Natural
Resources.
"The work of this committee will determine if the allegations of
animal abuse have merit at which point we will take appropriate
action,'' Schmidly said. "I want to be assured that our respected
scientists will continue their essential research in a humane and
ethical way.''
The committee is expected to present its findings to the president
by the end of the month.
Other committee members are John Trotter, deputy executive vice
president for UNM Health Sciences; William Gannon, chair of the UNM
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee; Sam Loker, chair of the
biology department; university counsel Patrick Apodaca; university
communications director Susan McKinsey; Lisa Jennings of Animal
Protective Services; and Ray Powell, former state land commissioner.
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