The June edition of Nature Biotechnology carries a lengthy news feature on animal rights violence: "When Animal Rights Gets Ugly" by staff reporter Brady Huggett.  The article discusses recent incidents of threats and intimidation of pharmaceutical and academic researchers, and posits that biotech companies should proactively prepare for similar campaigns.

It is available online at http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v26/n6/pdf/nbt0608-603.pdf to Nature Biotechnology subscribers, or for individual purchase.

The article highlights several of the 'Prescriptives' offered by Americans for Medical Progress - steps institutions can take to protect personnel and facilities.  Here's AMP's full list.  If we may be of individual assistance in your crisis planning process, please contact us at amp@amprogress.org or 703 836 9595 x100.

Keep the situation in perspective: While the animal rights agenda calls for all animal research to be ended, only a small number of activists are willing to commit acts of violence or intimidation. A police official recently said that as a scientist who works with animals, you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than you do being the target of animal rights militants.

Prepare, prepare, prepare:  Insure that your institution has an up-to-date crisis plan – not one written a decade ago and that has since been collecting dust on a shelf.  See what needs to be revised – are there new facilities, different species of research animals, ‘hot-button’ research in place since the plan was drafted?  These all need to be considered.  Members of your Crisis Management Team need to know their roles and conduct tabletop crisis exercises periodically to stay ready.

Know the threat:  Stay current on the tactics and trends of the movement by subscribing to the email news digests offered by Americans for Medical Progress (amp@amprogress.org), and contact us at 703 836 9595 if you have specific concerns.  Become a member of your state’s biomedical research association (see www.statesforbiomed.org).  Often, the FBI provides presentations on the status of the threat, and prescriptives, to select audiences in the research community.  Arrange this through your local FBI field office.

Get to know law enforcement:  If your security personnel do not already have strong connections with local, state and federal law enforcement already, get to know them now, BEFORE there is an incident.  The local FBI - Joint Terrorism Task Force is a good first step.  Explain that your facility could be a target of activists, and invite them to survey.  If necessary, hire a security firm to conduct a risk analysis/vulnerability audit of your facility and the homes of key personnel. (AMP can provide recommendations of firms that do this.) 

Avoid a siege mentality:  A key component of any security plan is public outreach.  Be as transparent as possible, and responsive to community concerns. Have key personnel speak at Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and similar meetings – emphasize the economic benefits of your research to the local community, as well as the health benefits.  Liaise with the local school system to provide speakers, and if practicable, tours of your facility.  Develop a strong relationship with local newspaper, radio and TV reporters and editors: keep them posted on potential news and feature items. Arrange for lawmakers – from city councilors to U.S. Senators – to meet your scientists and tour your facility. The capital you build now within your community can be drawn on for support should you face activist targeting.  Know that a large majority of Americans support the work that you do.

Stay alert:  Activists usually conduct extensive research before targeting a facility or individual. Warn staff not to give sensitive information over the phone, to a visitor, or via email – this includes the names of scientists and others working with animals, location of animal facilities, and the species and number of animals on the premises.  Train those who open mail or receive packages to be alert to suspicious articles.  Have your security chief, or the local police, lecture staff on personal security measures.  Also watch for signs – such as an employee visiting the facility off-shift - that an activist might be infiltrating your institution.

If you are threatened:  Do not confront activists directly.  Report any incidents through your institutional chain of command. Police should also be notified immediately.  It is important that all suspicious activity be logged for possible future use by law enforcement.  Write down license plates, descriptions of unusual visitors, phone calls, etc.  Do NOT delete any e-mails you receive from activists.

Support those who are targeted:  If an individual is singled out for her/his research, it is important that the institution provide the necessary resources to ensure the person and his/her family are seen through the situation.  This may include temporary assignment of private security, information for neighbors of those who face ‘home protests’ from the activists, designation of a member of the Crisis Management Team to coordinate all assistance, counseling, legal support, etc.  Staff needs to know the institution stands solidly behind them.  Also, it is a moral imperative that scientific and professional societies recognize the threat of animal rights militancy and strongly renounce the tactics when they are used against members of their organizations.

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The New Jersey Association for Biomedical Research (NJABR) has selected a new President - Drew Harris, D.P.M., M.P.H.   A proven leader, health advocate, and skilled communicator, he brings broad-based experience in public health, clinical care, academic medicine, and public policy.

NJABR's first president, Jayne Mackta, is retiring on June 30.  She has been devoted to serving the cause of biomedical research for two decades.

Co-founder and Chair of the New Jersey Public Health Institute, Dr. Harris is Director of the Public Health Leadership Initiative for Emergency Response and Assistant Director of the NJ Center for Public Health Preparedness, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. A featured contributor on NJVoices.com, The Star-Ledger online opinion website  (see http://blog.nj.com/njv_drew_harris/), Dr. Harris is one of NJABR's most popular speakers. A Fellow of Leadership New Jersey, he holds the position of Assistant Professor in the UMDNJ- School of Public Health.

We at Americans for Medical Progress welcome Dr. Harris and look forward to future collaborations even as we bid a fond farewell to our friend Jayne Mackta and wish her every happiness in her new ventures.

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The current edition of the PRIM&R newsletter includes an appreciation dedicated to John Miller, PRIM&R Emeritus Board member, who is retiring in June from his service as Executive Director of the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC).

In the feature, John talks with PRIM&R Executive Director Joan Rachlin about AAALAC's growth and achivements over the years.  There are also tributes to him from a number of friends in the research community.

If you have not received a copy of the newsletter, it may be found online at http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/primrar/issues/2008-05-30/1.html 

Our appreciation and friendship go with John as he retires from AAALAC this month.

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Americans for Medical Progress is saddened to report the passing of Thomas W. Dunfee, who served several terms on our Board of Directors.  Tom was a member of the Legal Studies and Business Ethics Department at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania  for 34 years.  Among his many contributions to the School, he was the Director of the Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research, Vice Dean of the Wharton Undergraduate Division, and most recently, Chairperson of the Legal Studies and Business Ethics Department. 

Tom cared passionately about the ethical framework involving the humane use of animals in biomedical research, and offered AMP steady guidance and insight as we matured as an organization. 

He is survived by his wife, Dottie, their three children, and four grandchildren.

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June 27-29 - Portland, OR  "Let Live NW"  animal rights conference sponsored by Vegans for Animal Advocacy.

July 16-20  Milwaukee, WI - Anarchist meeting - "Crimethinc Convergence" will include animal rights activists as participants.

July 19-21 - Crystal City, VA - HSUS and other animal rights organizations sponsor "Taking Action for the Animals" conference.

Postponed/Cancelled: July 25- 27 - Chicago -  An email sent to AR lists noted that concerns voiced by campus administration  forced the postponement or cancellation of the conference  "Mending the Heartland:  Building a Unified Midwest Animal Liberation Movement" sponsored by Animal Defense League Chicago and others.  Earlier materials stated the conference would "stand openly in support of the Animal Liberation Front. It is our belief that the actions of the ALF are essential elements of the fight for animal liberation and this conference will feature workshops and presenters that reflect that belief."

August 14-18 - Alexandria, VA - "Animal Rights 2008 National Convention", convened by FARM and other animal rights groups.  It was just announced that Heather Mills (formerly McCartney) will be the celebrity keynoter at the event.

August 21-24 - International Animal Rights Gathering - near Vienna, Austria.  Approx 400 activists attend. A large protest is planned in Vienna prior to the meeting.

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FREE VIDEO ON ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY - The University of California Davis Animal Science Department recently released a 30 minute video designed to educate the public.  It may be viewed as streaming video at: http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/animalbiotech/ucdavis_biotech_streaming.asx    A free DVD version of the video may be requested. Send your name and mailing address to biotech@asmail.ucdavis.edu.

Also, FBR has produced a documentary on the advanced therapies available for horses with osteoarthritis that are also used on people with the same condition.  The video is available for purchase.  See www.horsefacts.org

FREE NIH TEACHING TOOLS HELP EDUCATORS MEET STATE SCIENCE EDUCATION STANDARDS  A popular series of curriculum supplements from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) aimed at promoting science education achievement is now aligned to individual state education standards in science, math, health and English language arts for kindergarten through the 12th grade. This cross-curricular alignment, unique to each state, shows educators how the NIH curriculum supplements will help them meet specific learning goals for students and spells out the usefulness of the series nationwide. This series is FREE to educators upon request.

The recently completed alignment is designed to help teachers and schools incorporate these materials into their classrooms. Every effort has been made to use the current published academic standards for each state and the District of Columbia. The alignment of a supplement to state standards can be downloaded here.

More than 300,000 copies of the NIH curriculum supplements have been ordered by educators. The ongoing NIH curriculum supplement series -- which includes 16 supplements on such topics as genetics, infectious diseases, cell biology, toxicology, and the process of science -- promotes inquiry-based, interdisciplinary learning. The supplements are interactive teaching units that combine cutting-edge science research discoveries and real scientific data from NIH with state-of-the-art instructional materials for use in grades kindergarten through the 12th grade.

The NIH supplements are also aligned with the National Science Education Standards, released by the National Academy of Sciences in 1996. To request supplements or learn about how they are aligned with your state's standards, visit the NIH Office of Science Education Web site.

The AAALAC International Technician Fellowship recognizes two outstanding technicians one IAT Registered (RAnTech) Technologist and one AALAS Registered (RALAT, RLAT, RLATG, or CMAR) technician who have made (or have the potential to make) significant contributions to the
field of laboratory animal care and use.The U.S. winner will receive a week-long guest visit to a prestigious biomedical research facility in the U.K., plus complimentary attendance at the IAT Congress, the U.K.'s largest laboratory animal science and technology meeting (all registration, travel and lodging expenses are included, along with a daily allowance for meals and out-of-pocket expenses).
For more information about this opportunity go to:
http://www.tribranch.org/aaalacfellowship.pdf
For criteria and nomination guidelines go to: 
http://www.aaalac.org/about/criteria.cfm

"THE ANIMAL RESEARCH WAR" NOW AVAILABLE.  The book, by P. Michael Conn, of the Oregon National Primate Research Center, and ethicist James Parker, can now be ordered via the publisher, online booksellers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble or your local book store.  From the book's jacket:

"Conn and Parker identify grave dangers posed by the animal rights movement.  Unless ordinary citizens understand its nature and unless the volume of violence is turned down, the movement may slowly but effectively shut off the pipeline of medical discovery." 

Read more about this highly recommended book on the publisher's Web site. 

HAVE YOU REGISTERED YET?  Communication & Collaboration: An International Forum for Animal Research Policy - June 24-25, Washington DC.  Americans for Medical Progress has joined with NABR, FBR and seven other research support organizations in North America and Europe to convene this important gathering.  The Forum will explore global strategies for a safe and supportive environment in which biomedical research involving animals can thrive. Challenges, best practice, and recommendations for future action will be shared in three professional interest tracks: Science and Public Policy; Communications and Public Opinion; and Security, Law Enforcement and Crisis Prevention. Please see http://www.animalresearchforum.org for program details, speakers and registration information. To obtain a username and password for secure website areas or for answers to other questions, contact us at amp@amprogress.org.

OLAW announces IACUC Training for 2008
For the most recent schedule and details visit, http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/iacuc101s.htm

Date	Location	Host Organization	Program & Registration
06/17/08 - 06/18/08	Minneapolis, MN	University of Minnesota	IACUC 101/201PLUS
08/13/08 - 08/14/08	Fort Collins, CO	National Wildlife Research Center, CDC and Colorado State	IACUC 101/201PLUS
09/23/08 - 09/24/08	San Francisco, CA	UCSF and CBRA	IACUC 101/201Plus
10/08/08	Las Vegas, NV	Scientists Center for Animal Welfare	SCAW IACUC Advanced

OLAW announces IACUC Staff Outreach - a free online seminar series to help Institutional Animal Care and Use (IACUC) staff explore their responsibilities in the oversight of PHS-funded research that involves the use of live vertebrate animals.  The first seminar is Preparing for Animal Rights Extremist Activities at Your Institution  -  June 12, 2008 Guest speaker: Jim Newman, Director of Strategic Communication, Oregon Health & Science University. The series is tailored to IACUC staff members but IACUC members, veterinarians, compliance personnel, animal care staff and others involved in PHS-Assured institutions’ animal programs are welcome to attend the seminars.  Information may be found at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/e-seminars.htm. 

NABR's 2008 Leadership Conference - June 23 - Washington, DC.  Contact info@nabr.org

ILAR will hold an international conference September 23-26, 2008 in Washington, DC on Animal Research in a Global Environment: Meeting the Challenges.  Details forthcoming.The conference will cover topics such as: how to conduct research in countries with different guidelines for animal care and use; outsourcing studies; cultural differences in veterinary care and training; and issues specific to research with mice and nonhuman primates.

Do you have an event of interest to the research community?
Please submit it for inclusion to Research Resources. 
Email amp@amprogress.org

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