Monkey Labs Get Fed Fines

The University of Pennsylvania has recently agreed to pay a $4000 fine to the federal government and to take other steps to settle charges of animal abuse at its medical school's head injury clinical research center.

The federal government had previously suspended a university animal research program in July because of alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act, which governs the care and treatment of animals used in research. According to the government, an investigation showed poor care of the primates used in studies of the primates used in studies of head injuries and improper training and supervision of laboratory assistants.

These experiments had drawn widespread public opposition last spring when animal interest groups led a publicity campaign against the Penn labs.

Officials at the University of Pennsylvania could not be reached for comment.

Under an agreement with the government, the University of Pennsylvania will increase the use of pain-relieving drugs in animal experiments, the care of injured animals, and the training of research workers who handle laboratory animals, said Bert W. Hawkins, administrator of the Federal Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.