Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Disclosure of Conflict of Interest: R. Wayne Barbee.

In accordance with Section 15 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the "Academy shall make its best efforts to ensure that no individual appointed to serve on [a] committee has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the functions to be performed, unless such conflict is promptly and publicly disclosed and the Academy determines that the conflict is unavoidable." A conflict of interest refers to an interest, ordinarily financial, of an individual that could be directly affected by the work of the committee. As specified in the Academy's policy and procedures (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi/index.html), an objective determination is made for each provisionally appointed committee member whether or not a conflict of interest exists given the facts of the individual's financial and other interests and the task being undertaken by the committee. A determination of a conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual's actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.

We have concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established its membership must include among others, at least one person who is currently engaged in federally funded research involving the use of laboratory animals.
To meet the need for this expertise and experience, Dr. R. Wayne Barbee is proposed for appointment to the committee even though we have concluded that he has a conflict of interest because he is currently engaged in federally funded research involving the use of laboratory animals subject to the guidelines specified in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

As his biographical summary makes clear, Dr. Barbee is a nationally recognized expert on the physiology of the cardiovascular system, with special emphasis on hemodynamics, hemorrhage and rescuscitation, and hemorrhagic shock He has extensive experience in performing research on various species of laboratory animals, including rodents, farm swine, minipigs, bats, cats and dogs with funds from the National Institutes of Health, the Office of Naval Research, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Department of Defense and the American Heart Association. He has provided peer-review services to federal (CSR Special Emphasis Panel) and military (AIBS Combat Casualty Care Panel) agencies related to resuscitation and hemorrhagic shock. Further, Dr. Barbee has served as the chair of his institution’s (Virginia Commonwealth University) IACUC for nearly 5 years. His familiarity with both the scientific and regulatory aspects of animal use in research is critical for the committee in meeting its task. We believe that Dr. Barbee can serve effectively as a member of the committee and that the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the work.

After an extensive search, we have been unable to find another individual with the equivalent combination of current practical experience and expertise as Dr. Barbee who does not have a similar conflict of interest. Therefore, we have concluded that this potential conflict is unavoidable.


Disclosure of Conflict of Interest: John C. Donovan.

In accordance with Section 15 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the "Academy shall make its best efforts to ensure that no individual appointed to serve on [a] committee has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the functions to be performed, unless such conflict is promptly and publicly disclosed and the Academy determines that the conflict is unavoidable." A conflict of interest refers to an interest, ordinarily financial, of an individual that could be directly affected by the work of the committee. As specified in the Academy's policy and procedures (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi/index.html), an objective determination is made for each provisionally appointed committee member whether or not a conflict of interest exists given the facts of the individual's financial and other interests and the task being undertaken by the committee. A determination of a conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual's actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.

We have concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established its membership must include among others, at least one person with direct and recent experience in industry settings that involve care, housing and experimental use of laboratory animals subject to the guidelines specified in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
To meet the need for this expertise and experience, Dr. John C. Donovan is proposed for appointment to the committee even though we have concluded that he has a conflict of interest because he owns stocks in excess of $10,000 in various pharmaceutical corporations that use animals in laboratory research subject to the guidelines specified in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

As his biographical summary makes clear, Dr. Donovan is a nationally recognized expert on the animal science programs and animal resources operations of major pharmaceutical companies. Moreover, he has directed the animal care and use programs of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Cancer Institute. Further, he has served as Chief of the Department of Animal Resources at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and Laboratory Animal Medicine Officer at the U. S. Army Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. Dr. Donovan has provided peer-review services to the National Research Council and participated in various committees of the National Institutes of Health. His familiarity with the clinical, scientific and regulatory aspects of animal care and use as well as the management of animal research programs is critical for the committee in meeting its task. We believe that Dr. Donovan can serve effectively as a member of the committee and that the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the work.

After an extensive search, we have been unable to find another individual with the equivalent combination of current practical experience and expertise as Dr. Donovan who does not have a similar conflict of interest. Therefore, we have concluded that this potential conflict is unavoidable.


Disclosure of Conflict of Interest: Neil S. Lipman.

In accordance with Section 15 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the "Academy shall make its best efforts to ensure that no individual appointed to serve on [a] committee has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the functions to be performed, unless such conflict is promptly and publicly disclosed and the Academy determines that the conflict is unavoidable." A conflict of interest refers to an interest, ordinarily financial, of an individual that could be directly affected by the work of the committee. As specified in the Academy's policy and procedures (http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi/index.html), an objective determination is made for each provisionally appointed committee member whether or not a conflict of interest exists given the facts of the individual's financial and other interests and the task being undertaken by the committee. A determination of a conflict of interest for an individual is not an assessment of that individual's actual behavior or character or ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest.

We have concluded that for this committee to accomplish the tasks for which it was established its membership must include among others, at least one person who has direct and current experience and responsibility for operation of an animal care facility for a major medical center in which animal experimentation is performed and in which laboratory animals are cared for and housed according to the guidelines specified in the Guide for the Care and use of Laboratory Animals.
To meet the need for this expertise and experience, Dr. Neil S. Lipman is proposed for appointment to the committee even though we have concluded that he has a conflict of interest because he directs the animal resource program serving a major biomedical research complex under the guidelines specified in the Guide for the Care and use of Laboratory Animals.

As his biographical summary makes clear, Dr. Lipman is Director of the Research Animal Resources Centers serving the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. He is a nationally recognized expert on the operations of major academic animal care programs and the recipient of National Institutes of Health facilities construction and improvement grants. He has researched the development of rodent housing systems and also the application of novel technologies on monoclonal antibody production. As Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Dr. Lipman has the requisite skills to oversee the care, housing and husbandry of most vertebrate species currently used in research (including several species of non human primates). He is further skilled in the care of amphibians and zebra fish. He has provided peer-review services to the National Research Council and to the Wellcome Trust. His familiarity with the clinical, scientific and regulatory aspects of animal care and use in research is critical for the committee in meeting its task. We believe that Dr. Lipman can serve effectively as a member of the committee and that the committee can produce an objective report, taking into account the composition of the committee, the work to be performed, and the procedures to be followed in completing the work.

After an extensive search, we have been unable to find another individual with the equivalent combination of current practical experience and expertise as Dr. Lipman who does not have a similar conflict of interest. Therefore, we have concluded that this potential conflict is unavoidable.

Committee Membership Roster Comments

April 16, 2009- The committee membership has been updated to reflect the resignation of Dr. Coenraad Hendriksen.