People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals accused UNC-CH of misconduct in laboratories after releasing a video last week that was shot by an undercover investigator and showed alleged abuse and neglect of laboratory animals.
But Russ Lea, UNC-system vice president for research, said the video shot by undercover investigator Kate Turlington was of poor quality and was not put into context. Lea said he was especially upset about PETA not allowing scientists at its briefing about the video. "They are shooting themselves in the foot by not allowing us at the briefing and viewing," he said.
Lea said UNC-system officials are concerned about the allegations that animal welfare was threatened in UNC-CH labs but that individuals campuses can best address concerns. He said he thinks UNC-CH is addressing the accusations properly. "They are meeting the allegations head-on and not hiding," he said.
John Bradfield, chairman of the Department for Comparative Medicine at East Carolina University, said ECU's labs are similar to UNC-CH's because they mostly use rats and mice as test subjects.
But Bradfield said ECU's labs are smaller and contained in a more centralized facility. "It is easier for us to keep track of everything that goes on in the labs," he said.
UNC-CH's labs are located in several campus buildings and even off campus.
Bradfield said ECU labs are reviewed biannually as a requirement of the National Institutes of Health. "In order to keep grant funding, we must follow the guide with set standards," he said.
Bradfield said he is not worried about unethical activities taking place at university labs.
Richard Fish, director of university animal resources at N.C. State University, said UNC-CH is doing the right thing in taking the allegations seriously. But Fish said anybody can make a video with implications.
