The use of laboratory animals for biomedical research, testing and education is guided by the principles of the Three Rs, replacement of animals where acceptable non-animal models exist, reduction in the number of animals to the fewest needed to obtain statistically significant data, and refinement of animal care and use to minimize pain and distress and to enhance animal well-being. The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals has been a critical international publication that provides information to scientists, veterinarians and animal care personnel when the decision has been made that animal use is necessary.A committee will update the 1996 version of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Anima1s (the Guide) to reflect new scientific information related to the issues already covered in the Guide, and to add discussion and guidance on new topics of laboratory animal care and use related to state-of-the-art animal research programs. Specifically, the committee will review the scientific literature published since the release of the 1996 Guide and determine whether the information currently in the Guide concurs with current scientific evidence. The committee will also review the literature related to new technologies related to laboratory animal care and use and determine where new guidance is necessary to ensure the best scientific outcomes and optimal animal welfare. In the process of this review, the committee will also take into consideration the materials provided to NIH in response to the Request for Information NOT -OD-O6-011 that specifically requested information related to the need to update the Guide. Where scientifically warranted, the guidance and recommendations will be changed to reflect new scientific evidence, while maintaining the performance standards in the current Guide. The committee will ensure that any recommendations in the Guide will be consistent with Public Health Service policy, the Animal Welfare Regulations, and the 2000 Report of American Veterinary Medical Association Panel on Euthanasia. In addition to the published report, the new Guide will be posted on the Internet and produced in an electronic format that is searchable.The project is sponsored by the following: National Institutes of Health, Office of Research Integrity of the Department of Health and Human Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the US Department of Agriculture, Association of Assessment and Accrediation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International, Abbott, Pfizer, American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, American Association of Primate Veterinarians, American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners, American Association of Laboratory Animal Science. The approximate start date for the project is 1/1/08.Note: The committee welcomes written comments from the public on the subject of this project. Any comments received will also be individually cited in the project’s public access file, as part of the list of written materials presented to the committee in the course of its work. If you wish to provide comments, you can use the “Provide FEEDBACK on this project” link below. You may also convey your comments via email to lanestidou@nas.edu or kbeil@nas.edu or otherwise send it to the committee’s attention at the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, National Research Council, 500 Fifth Street N.W., Room KC 684, Washington, DC 20001. In order to allow sufficient time for the committee’s consideration of your comments, we would appreciate receiving them by January 31, 2009. Later submissions will be considered if time permits. Please identify your name and affiliation in all your communications.Note 11-17-08: The report is expected to be issued by the end of January 2010.