Varsity's cat experiments lab shut down

A US university research laboratory attacked for using live cats in experiments is closing this year.

The University of Wisconsin at Madison said its neuroscience department would no longer conduct experiments related to "sound localisation" because its chief researcher, Tom Yin, 70, is retiring.

Animal anti-cruelty activists People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals down criticised Yin for his experiments in the past.

In 2009 Peta sought information on Yin's experiments through an open-records request. This led to an investigation by the US Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health.

The lab was cleared for continued research involving cats but the agriculture department fined the university $35000 last year for seven violations of the Animal Welfare Act, citing instances of negligence.

Yin was hired by the university in 1977 and his research is linked to breakthroughs involving how the brain processes and localises sound.

Chris Barncard, a university spokesman, said that four of the five cats still in Yin's laboratory had been adopted into private homes and the other killed. He said it was "unlikely" that Yin's research would continue.

Peta focused national attention on Yin's laboratory with an e-mail campaign, drawing support from comedian Bill Maher, actor James Cromwell and other celebrities.

On its website Peta said the closure of Yin's lab was "a victory".