A NATIONAL WATCHDOG GROUP IS CALLING FOR MORE PUNITIVE ACTION AFTER OBTAINING AN UNPUBLISHED REPORT INDICATING ANIMAL WELFARE VIOLATIONS AT EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (ETSU). THE GROUP, STOP ANIMAL EXPLOITATION NOW (SAEN), IS URGING ETSU TO TERMINATE LAB STAFF AND REFUND GRANT MONEY TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH) FOLLOWING THE MISTREATMENT OF LAB MICE.ETSU SELF-REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE OFFICE OF LABORATORY ANIMAL WELFARE (OLAW) AND IMPLEMENTED CORRECTIVE ACTIONS, INCLUDING A SIX-MONTH SUSPENSION FOR THE STAFF INVOLVED. ETSU STATED THAT OLAW WAS SATISFIED WITH THEIR RESPONSE AND THAT NO FURTHER ACTION IS PLANNED.