Eric Sandgren, Director of the UW Animal Care and Use Program, responds to accusations that their labs torture animals. He notes all labs and records are subject to federal oversight.
"Everyone of our facilities are inspected once at least once a year by veterinary medical officers from the United States Department of Agriculture."
The Ohio-based Stop Animal Exploitation Now has alleged primates at UW Primate Research Center suffer pain because of bolts being implanted in their skulls. Sandgren says all procedures are only done if necessary.
"There are occasions in which devices are bolted to their (primates) skulls."
Sandgren notes that metal was often attached to human skulls as a means to cover areas that were severly damaged. Additionally, many people have metal plants in their bone fragment, in which chronic pain is generally not associated with any of these procedures.
He says every lab experiment on animals must be peer approved by a committee. At least 60 people serve on these committees with each panel including at least veterinarian, a scientific researcher and someone not affiliated with the university.
Sandgren says if any test does cause chronic pain to the animals, they are removed from the study.