Comments on: UCLA Pro-Test a resounding success

By: speakingofresearch

speakingofresearch — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:54:01 +0000

…and if the grass could have understood it was being trodden on it might also be throwing stones – but the whole nature of understanding is what is at the heart of research being ethically acceptable.

By: AC

AC — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:52:31 +0000

Well If they animals couldve understood what was going on they wouldve been there throwing stones.

Isnt it great when you’re not the victim?

parasites

By: Denis Alexander

Denis Alexander — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:55:27 +0000

Don’t forget about the petition: http://www.raisingvoices.net

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:05:25 +0000

This is my rather long winded and indirect contribution to Pro-Test: Friendship, grief, anarchy, fine dining, and random gunfire.

By: Denis Alexander

Denis Alexander — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:35:24 +0000

Hey! Where is Edward now!?!?

By: Paul Browne

Paul Browne — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:43:35 +0000

There’s an interesting item in the Daily Bruin about the Pro-Test UCLA rally.

http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/stories/2009/apr/23/sdfsdf/

One point that stuck out is a statement by the animal rights campaigner Emmanuel Masongsong that

“Stem cell research also has great potential, he said, because scientists can work with human cells instead of those of other species, and can also reproduce human metabolic processes in trials, to better predict drug toxicity.”

Now this is actually true, human stem cells do have tremendous potential for the development of far better in vitro screening methods (which typically use human or animal cells that are derived from tumours) for fields such as toxicology, and for the early stages of screeing potential anti-cancer drugs. But he seems to have forgotton the absolutely crucial role played by animal research in studying stem cells and getting the field to the point it’s at today, regardless of whether you’re talking about adult, embryonic or iPS cells. We’ve discussed this several times on this blog and over on the Pro-Test science blog. And of course animal research is still crucial to ongoing studies that are teaching us more about how stem cells function, and how to manipulate them, and to the development and refinement of stem cell therapies.

Masongsong’s opinions are typical of the blinkered views of many opponants of animal research, happy to agree with other scientists about areas where new technologies can replace or redude the need for animal research, but blind to the areas where it still plays a vital role and will continue to do so for many years to come.

By: Paul Browne

Paul Browne — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:05:18 +0000

It sounds like I missed a great event, but at least I got to follow it live on twitter.

UCLA news has a detailed article on the rally at:

http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/supporters-of-biomedical-research-89486.aspx

and a nice video at:

http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/electronicplay.aspx?fid=68666&id=E0C5478

Very cool!! At the risk of gushing I’ll say that today you guys made me proud!

By: Denis Alexander

Denis Alexander — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:24:44 +0000

This was truly an amazing event. Inspirational. Courageous. As David said: “enough is enough” — and the UCLA community agreed in full force.

We hope this historic day at UCLA will inspire our colleagues across the nation, officials from from NIH, private medical foundations, celebrities and members of the public, to finally stand up for Science, progress and humane medical research.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:40:20 +0000

Hooray for our team!! I’m sorry I missed the event but I was there in spirit.

By: Pamela K. Moos

Pamela K. Moos — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:23:46 +0000

It was a day like no other I have experienced. I am proud to have taken part in this historic event! A big Thank You to everyone who had a hand in making this rally so successful. The courage to stand up against those who would stop our researchers from continuing their lifesaving work has finally been found. Let’s keep this momentum going!