• IDA Research Guide Overview
  • Locating your targets.
  • Obtaining medical school catalogs.
  • Using the World Wide Web to find information.
  • Obtaining CRISP Abstracts.
  • Using the Gopher system.
  • The Department of Defense web site.
  • Freedom of Information Act requests.
  • Obtaining USDA Annual reports.
  • Obtaining USDA Inspection reports.
  • Investigating your targets with Medline.
  • Medline on the World Wide Web.
  • Contacting the National Institute of Health.
  • Other important documents.
  • Reviewing journal articals, grants and other documents.
  • Obtaining professional opinions.
  • Writing a brochure or fact sheet.
  • Regulatory and animal care guides.
  • Attending IACUC meetings.
  • Conclusion.

    Research guide resources:

  • Organizations.
  • Common NIH Grant Designations.
  • Sample CRISP Abstract and Indexing Terms.
  • Sample DOD Abstract
  • Sample FOIA letter.
  • Sample Necropsy Report.







    		• Freedom of Information Act requests

    You should also submit a Freedom of InformationAct (FOIA) request** for USDA Inspection Reports and Annual Reports filedin the last three years for the institution(s) you are investigating (USDAdoes not inspect DOD facilities; you should ask the DOD facilities themselvesfor their own inspections). The Inspection Reports will show if there isa continuing pattern of Animal Welfare Act violations, while the AnnualReports will show annual totals, including for the number and species ofanimal, and how many animals are used in research falling under CategoryD on the Report (pain and distress, but animals given analgesics) and CategoryE (pain and distress, no analgesics given). Keep in mind that researchersoften minimize animal pain, so these categories do not give a true pictureof suffering.

    NOTE: IDA recommends that you send all FOIA requests by FAX, and then followup with certified mail, so that there is a paper trail for your request.