Glossary

Studies on laboratory animals are essential to better understand the overall effect of the treatment on a living organism. A treatment, even if it is intended to affect one part of the body or a specific biological system (for example, the circulatory system, the respiratory system or the nervous system), may affect other parts of the body or other biological systems. Since animals have a body similar to that of humans, particularly in terms of vital functions such as breathing, digestion, movement and reproductive functions, testing a promising treatment in animals can therefore confirm its effects and safety before testing it in humans.

As with clinical trials, studies on animals are highly regulated and require ethics board approval. In Canada, the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) plays an important role in the scientific community. It creates and establishes ethical animal practices for rigorous and valid research results.