The committee works tirelessly to help improve public understanding on animal research. Everyone below continues to shape the future of Speaking of Research. Do you want to be involved? Join the Committee.
All signed news articles express the views of an individual member of the Speaking of Research committee and not that of his/her institution.
Allyson Bennett – A scientist whose research with nonhuman primates centers on how interplay between genes and experiences in childhood and adolescence contribute to individual differences in developmental pathways and health across the lifespan. She also directs a community outreach and education program designed to provide opportunities for interactions between researchers and the broader community, particularly K-12 and college students.
David Bienus – A Veterinary Technician responsible for maintaining the health welfare of laboratory animal colonies and for training individuals in proper techniques used in research. He also assists with the programs agricultural animals and is starting an outreach program aimed at the high school level. David became interested in Speaking of Research because he felt strongly that it was time for those involved in research to stand up and support one another while debunking some of the myths put out by the animal rights organizations.
Paul Browne – A science blogger, Paul joined Speaking of Research because he was tired at seeing the half-truths and misinformation of the anti-vivisectionists go unchallenged in the press, and of watching news reports on medical advances that rarely mentioned the animal research that underpinned them. As scientists face increasingly serious threats from violent animal rights extremists, he believes that the medical and research communities can and should do a lot more to support colleagues who are under attack.
Lynn Fairbanks is a professor of psychiatry at UCLA who studies genetic and maternal influences on the development of individual differences in temperament and behavior of vervet monkeys. This research contributes to our understanding of the factors that lead to vulnerability for human psychiatric and behavioral disorders.
Tom Holder – A founding member of the British group Pro-Test, which stood up to animal rights extremists in the UK. In 2008 he moved to the US where he founded Speaking of Research, as well as helping to organize the UCLA Pro-Test rally. Despite returning to the UK he continues to be an active advocate for biomedical research.
J. David Jentsch – A Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA. After the fire-bombing of his car by animal rights extremists, David founded UCLA Pro-Test in order to combat the violence and defend the critical research that he and his colleagues carry out. His own research focuses on an understanding of the neurobiological origins of psychoses and addictions, with a particular focus on translating that information into treatments for the disorders.
Pamela Bass – A Registered Veterinary Technician using her medical skills to maintain animal health in the research environment, she has been an advocate for scientific research for decades. She frequently visits schools (any grade) for talks about how animals live in the research environment and to answer any and all questions the audience may have. She firmly believes that once people have the entire story, listen to both sides, we will be able to have a rational populace able to make rational decisions.
Kathryn Knowlson – A supervisor of animal care and research support, who is responsible for the humane care and use of non-human primates in biomedical research. Kate works with a team of 30 technicians to monitor the health of the animals, provide all daily care, and collect data as requested by the researchers. Kate joined Speaking of Research to help raise public awareness of the high standards of care that research animals receive and the practical medical benefits animal research produces, while also honoring the compassionate, hard-working animal-lovers who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of critical treatments for humans and animals through their work with research animals.
Dario Ringach – A Professor of Neurobiology and Psychology at the David Geffen School of Medicine in UCLA, and affiliate with the Jules Stein Eye Institute, the Brain Research Institute and the Biomedical Engineering Program at UCLA.
Gene Rukavina – The Training Manager for the Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine at UCLA. Gene believes in the power of public outreach and the importance of explaining to the general public how and why animals are used in biomedical research. Gene uses his background as a Registered Veterinary Technician to reach out to pre-vet and vet tech students each semester and encourages them to consider a career path in laboratory animal science. Gene promotes proper training, which plays a vital role in the welfare of laboratory animals.
Megan Wyeth – A doctoral candidate at UCLA, Megan is investigating the role of altered inhibition in the mechanisms underlying a mouse model of temporal lobe epilepsy. She hopes this research will improve our understanding of epilepsy in a way which can be later used to improve the treatment for humans with the condition.
Bill Yates — A professor at the University of Pittsburgh who studies the vestibular system and its influences on autonomic regulation. This research seeks to unravel the neural mechanisms through which body motion can lead to conditions such as motion sickness. Bill is also active in bringing information to the classroom about the importance of animal models in biomedical research.
