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One research study that involved animals would be the Silver Spring monkeys research. This study took place in the 1980s, this study involved psychologist Edward Taub who was investigating neuroplasticity and the recovery of function after nerve injuries using 17 macaque monkeys. This experiment involved having the monkey's sensory nerves surgically severed to study the effects of sensory deprivation on the brain. This test was to see if the brain had the ability to reorganize and recover function.

The ethical issue that arose were that the monkeys were subjected to various restraint devices to prevent them from using their affected limbs. There were also concerns about the nature of the procedures performed on the monkeys and the conditions in which they were kept. The critics were also stating that the monkeys experienced unnecessary pain and suffering and that the methods used were invasive and cruel.

Because the issue that was of most concerns was the way they were being kept, they could have improved housing and care. Allowing the monkeys to be housed in enriched environments with opportunities for social interaction and mental stimulation would have been a great improvement. They could have also allowed adequate veterinary care and extensive monitoring of the animals' health and well-being. Another possibility would have been refinement of the surgical procedures. By having the surgical procedures use anesthesia and analgesics to minimize pain and distress for the animals this could have been a way to reduce the suffering experienced by the monkeys.

Looking at this certain topic, virtue ethics would encourage researchers to embody virtues such as compassion, empathy, and respect for the well-being of sentient beings. This would have to be done by striving to minimize harm while balancing the potential benefits to human health and scientific knowledge. While in this case the reason the monkey was being used instead of other animals like cows or chicken, was because they are of similar composition to humans. This is why it wouldn't have been ideal to use any other types of animals.