Can Animals be Used in Medical Research?

As a veterinary technology student, I'm struggling with ethics of the use of animals in biomedical research. How does the halakhic concept of avoiding pain experienced by living things (tza'ar ba'alei hayyim) inform the treatment of animals in modern research? And is there a Jewish way to mark the death of animal outside of ritual slaughter?

Have a question you'd like answered on Responsa Radio? Email us at [email protected].