Improving transparency and ethical accountability in animal studies: three ways to link ethical approvals to publications.

The use of animals for research remains a highly controversial issue that receives much public attention and comment. This was illustrated, for example, by the participation in the European Commission’s internet consultation on the revision of Directive 86/609/EEC, which regulates their use in this way. Moreover, scientists using animals in their work still face fierce, sometimes violent opposition that includes death threats or the vandalism of research facilities by antivivisectionist and animal rights groups who want to see all use of animals in research completely banned. Given the polarizing nature of the issue, it is not always easy for the public and lawmakers to effectively weigh the benefits of biomedical research against the deaths of the animals used.