Faculty Advocacy For Animal Testing

This page features materials from the papers of Bennett J. Cohen, D.V.M., founder of the University of Michigan’s Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM). He is considered a pioneer in laboratory animal science. Cohen published widely, engaging directly in debates on animal welfare, and helped establish several major organizations related to animal research. In 1963, he chaired the National Academy of Sciences committee that produced "The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, which remains one of the most widely used standards worldwide. Notably, this same guide forms the basis of AAALAC’s accreditation expectations—yet AAALAC’s review of Cohen’s own U-M laboratories (see Lab and Faculty Reports page) found they did not meet those standards. In 1985, at age 60, Cohen stepped down as ULAM director to pursue research on aging, establishing the Core Facility for Aging Rodents. This lab developed mouse models that studied the physiological and cellular factors that control the rate of aging, with the goal of applying these findings to human models.

A 1990 eulogy for Bennett J. Cohen put out by the University of Michigan’s News for Animal Users. The text describes Cohen’s many doings that were considered achievments in the field of laboratory animal testing research.

An article on the formation of the Michigan Society for Medical Research at the U-M, a group advocating for the continued use of animals in scientific research amid growing opposition from animal-welfare organizations and pending federal legislation. It highlights statements from Bennett J. Cohen. 

Bennett Cohen published an article called "A Path to New knowledge" in the student-printed zine "Consider Animal Testing." In the article he argued for the importance of animal testing. The zine published writings from varying points of view in the animal welfare debate, such as both for and against animal testing.