Allegations of Gross Negligence and Abuse in NIH-Funded Research Trial Lead to Death of Laboratory Mice at Texas Tech University

An animal rights organization has raised serious concerns regarding alleged negligence and abuse at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), following the reported death of 11 laboratory mice during a federally funded research trial. Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN) filed an administrative complaint against researcher Dr. Wang with TTUHSC President Lori Rice-Spearman, requesting stringent penalties in light of the troubling findings from an internal investigation.

According to SAEN, documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request reveal preliminary findings submitted to the National Institutes of Health Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). These findings reportedly indicate that two incidents, occurring within ten days of each other, resulted in the death of the laboratory mice involved in the study. Dr. Sam Prien, chair of TTUHSC’s Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee, informed OLAW that one of the incidents was self-reported by the laboratory while the other was reported by staff members, implicating a single post-doctoral researcher whose surgical privileges were subsequently revoked.

The research, funded by 1,025 from NIH, was intended to explore the effects of a specific molecular activity on the brain during ischemic strokes. However, alarming reports detail a systemic breakdown in animal care practices, with allegations of “gross miscalculation” of the compounds given to the mice and improper surgical procedures performed under potentially hazardous conditions.

Further investigations reportedly revealed that the surgical procedures were conducted using non-sterile instruments, which may have contributed to severe health complications for the mice. Documents suggest that numerous mice underwent surgery within a tightly compressed timeframe, raising questions about the ethical and procedural integrity of the research process.

The conditions under which the animals were kept post-surgery have also drawn criticism, with reports indicating inadequate housing that allowed for aggression and injuries amongst the mice. One case allegedly resulted in the death of a mouse due to injuries sustained during this period, igniting further outrage from animal welfare advocates.

SAEN’s executive director, Michael Budkie, has urged the university to take significant corrective measures, including returning the NIH funding to the government and possibly terminating Dr. Wang’s position. Budkie’s call for accountability comes amid growing scrutiny of research practices and animal welfare in research settings.

In response to the escalating controversy, TTUHSC released a statement emphasizing its commitment to the highest ethical standards in animal welfare and research integrity. The statement, however, did not specifically address the details of the allegations or questions posed by the media regarding the internal investigation’s findings.

The institutional veterinarian’s report on the matter raises critical ethical considerations about animal care in scientific research, spotlighting potential lapses that could undermine the integrity of such studies.

As TTUHSC moves forward with its internal investigation and prepares for a formal hearing of the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee’s Violations Subcommittee, the spotlight remains on how the university will address these serious allegations and what implications they may have for both the research community and animal welfare advocacy at large.