University lawyers defend lab-animal handling

SAN FRANCISCO – Lawyers representing the University of California-San Francisco on Thursday formally defended the school’s handling of animals used in medical experiments after federal regulators accused the college of mistreating them.

In August, the Agriculture Department issued 61 alleged violations of animal-care regulations stemming from research between 2001 and 2003, including that scientists at the campus overbred monkeys, kept improper records and operated on a sheep without sufficient anesthesia.

On Thursday, school lawyers denied all the charges and pointed out that the violations were based on 26 citations that were sometimes listed under multiple categories.

“During the past five years UCSF has demonstrated its commitment to the humane and ethical handling of animals in its animal research program,” school lawyers wrote in their formal response. “This has included a mandatory training program for all investigators regardless of their experience and backgrounds at other institutions.”

The school said it prepared its formal response after an internal analysis that showed UCSF handles its animals properly.

“Our analysis leads me to conclude that UCSF has an excellent animal care program,” executive vice chancellor A. Eugene Washington said in an e-mail distributed campus-wide.

USDA officials could not be reached for comment late Thursday.

The school faces punishment ranging from fines to the loss of its medical research license if the allegations prove true.

The school paid a $2,000 fine in 2000 for depriving a monkey of water in behavior experiments.