Volume 30, Issue 2 (2024) Special Edition: Laboratory Animal Law

Laboratory animal law focuses specifically on the laws and regulations around the use of animals in research and testing. The practice of using non-human animals dates as far back as antiquity. But it is not until the early 1900s that the organized and systematic use of animals for research and testing became widespread.

Now more than ever, this area of law needs strong advocates to ensure the best outcome for science and animals. However, some of the best lawyers are hesitant to enter this area of law because it involves not only mastering law but also developing a level of comfort with science, the scientific method, the scientific process, and ethics that are applicable to this field.

As a means of enhancing accessibility, the Animal Law Review and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Toxicology Policy Team have partnered to create a special issue thatfocuses exclusively on the topic of laboratory animal law. This issue is not meant to serve as an introduction to laboratory animal law, but as a next step for those who have mastered the basics and who are looking to expand their knowledge about animals in research and testing.

We hope these articles contribute to the understanding of the laws, trends, and gaps in this area of law and that it will inspire others to embark on a career advocating for laws and policies that support the best science and the best outcome for non-human animals.

Special Issue Editors,

Paul A. Locke & Rebecca Critser