Is the interagency coordinating committee on the validation of alternative methods (ICCVAM) an efficient model for facilitating the acceptance of alternative testing methods?

The push for alternative testing methods that aim to greatly reduce or even replace the use of animals comes from not only a moral stance for animal welfare, but also a desire for more accurate and less expensive pre-clinical research. A federally funded committee was permanently established in 2000 to facilitate the regulatory acceptance of alternative testing methods that reduce, refine, or replace the use of animals. Its inception came with a lot of optimism and hope by those wanting to see a more modern approach to pre-clinical testing. It has been over 10 years now since ICCVAM was established. This thesis will determine the perception currently held among relevant personnel regarding its performance. This thesis will determine if the perception of ICCVAM, in its current incarnation, is that of an efficient model for the goal of reducing, refining, or replacing current animal test methods and if so, what solutions could improve it. The tools used for this research included a questionnaire to determine the perception of respondents, along with personal interviews with key people who interact with and have great knowledge of the workings of ICCVAM.