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].