Can you clarify what your actual research is looking into.

If you knew of all these alternatives you would realise that, just like animal models, they all have their shortcomings – it is not a case of simply picking one or another – you pick the most suitable method. For a small amount of research this will involve animals.

As a scientist involved in cancer research you will be aware of the important role of animals (e.g. dogs) in the creation of the human papillomavirus vaccine (which was originally a canine vaccine). Similarly you will note the giant strides in the treatment of breast cancer which have been the result of animal work.

How do you intend to get a drug to clinical trials before using the animal models to help actually develop it. How do you practise new surgical techniques (e.g. Deep Brain Stimulation) without the use of animals? We don’t exactly have people lining up to be involved in invasive neurophysiological research.

Regards

Tom

I’m in cancer research and know that most of the animal experiments we do are antiquated and not comparable with humans.
Even the ones “for” hazardous materials during pregnancy are mostly for nothing.

I know all these Alternatives very well. A lot of work needs to be done to have accurate models which are actually usable for human health.
It’s not the animal experiments that tell us anything about the human system that’s for sure.
This has been proven very often. I agree with you that some animal experiments are really necessary, but most of them are not. They are time consuming, very expensive and in the end they don’t tell us anything.
I would rather count on clinical trials combined with modern methods or “alternatives” and epidemiological studies!

Anne

1. What is your field of science?

The fact you mention better alternatives shows the depth of your misunderstanding. The best method depends on what you’re doing – for most of science the best method is not using animals – we do not use dogs to study atomic collisions, or rats to study inorganic chemical reactions. However there are some studies in biology that could not continue without animal research – how do you study the complex chemical interactions that go on during pregnancy with a test tube or computer? I suggest you read the “alternatives?” section of the website.

Other methods do tend to be cheaper, which is why labs around the country are keen to pick them up whenever they become useful for replacing some small part of animal research (and we do find non-animal substitutes for some bits of research).

Tom
Speaking of Research

I’m a scientist myself and it has long been proven that most animal experiments are just for nothing and useless!!

There are meanwhile much better and cheaper alternatives that actually give accurate results!

Please do your research and if it is just for public health and advancement!

THANKS