Story Of LAVA
The use of laboratory animals in India predates the enactment of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act of 1960. Early animal facilities in various institutions were often outdated and lacked the necessary infrastructure for conducting high-quality biomedical research. In many cases, staff from other divisions were assigned to work in these facilities as a form of punishment, and there were few veterinarians available to ensure the well-being of the animals.
While the PCA Act was passed by Parliament, its provisions, particularly those in Chapter IV concerning animal experimentation, remained largely dormant until 1998. This was when the Indian government revisited the law and introduced the Breeding of and Experimentation on Animals (Control and Supervision) Rules, 1998. The introduction of these rules was driven by two main factors: the significant financial investment and the large number of animals used in biomedical research, which were not yielding the expected outcomes, and the widespread inadequacy of animal facilities and research standards, which led to doubts from international regulatory bodies regarding the reliability of Indian research data.
In response to these challenges, the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA) was established. Over the course of a decade, the CPCSEA made a remarkable impact on improving standards of animal care and research in India.
The CPCSEA regulations required institutions to establish Institutional Animal Ethics Committees (IAECs) to review and approve all animal-based research. They also mandated the presence of qualified veterinarians to oversee the veterinary care of animals, a step that was a significant advancement for the veterinary profession in this field.
In 2018, the Laboratory Animal Veterinarians Association (LAVA) was founded to represent the growing need for professional support and development in laboratory animal medicine and surgery. Although its momentum was initially slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic, LAVA is now being revitalized with renewed energy and focus. The association aims to provide a platform for veterinary professionals to come together, collaborate, and enhance the standards of care in laboratory animal science. The goal is to foster specialization in the field and support continuous professional development, ensuring that veterinarians are equipped to meet the evolving challenges in laboratory animal care and research.