March 30, 2022Allyson J. Bennett & Sangy Panicker Openness and transparency in animal research are perennial topics of discussion (ex: here, here, here). The terms remain poorly defined. Nonetheless, they are often used both by those opposed to animal research and by advocates for animal research. The terms are used for both praise and criticism … Continue reading Elephants in the room: Openness in public vs private research facilities in the US
Month: March 2022
Venomous snails pave path to new pain treatments
March 28th 2022 We have previously written about the value of studying various species beyond those animals that are commonly used in research—mice, rats, primates and fish. One of those species includes Predatory Marine Snails, a.k.a., cone snails. These snails are used in medical research because they have up to 250 venoms which they use … Continue reading Venomous snails pave path to new pain treatments
New report on scientists “In the line of fire”
March 25, 2022 Allyson J. Bennett, Amanda M. Dettmer In a new report, Science writer Cathleen O'Grady provides a thought-provoking look at abuse directed at scientists. Her report focuses on COVID-19 scientists and includes stunning new survey data. O'Grady connects the dots to other areas of science, like animal research and climate change, where scientists … Continue reading New report on scientists “In the line of fire”
Performative politics and animal research: When is a ban not a ban?
March 24, 2022Speaking of Research From the EU to individual countries to small municipalities in the US there appears to be a new wave of trendy legislative efforts. The general idea is a proposal to ban some aspects of research or testing that involves nonhuman animals. The ban may take the form of directly interfering … Continue reading Performative politics and animal research: When is a ban not a ban?
Animal research makes COVID-vaccines more accessible globally
March 21st 2022Jeremy D. Bailoo While some countries appear to be emerging from the pandemic, many developing countries continue to struggle to vaccinate their citizens because they have limited access to the vaccine. Now, thanks to animal research, an inexpensive, easy-to-store, and effective alternative to RNA vaccines—a protein subunit vaccine—may be on the horizon. The researchers … Continue reading Animal research makes COVID-vaccines more accessible globally
Evergreen: Statistics out of context, predictability, and utility of animal models
March 18th 2022 In a recent letter to the US National Institutions of Health (NIH) , Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-CA) and Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) called for the NIH “to discontinue animal experiments and find alternatives to animal testing.” They write: “As Members of Congress, we are concerned the National Institutes of Health (NIH) … Continue reading Evergreen: Statistics out of context, predictability, and utility of animal models
#Brain Awareness Week: The Role of Animals in Neuroscience
March 17, 2022 If you’re a regular reader of the Speaking of Research science blog you will know that we are very interested in neuroscience – in fact several of us are neuroscientists – so you won’t be surprised to learn that we have been following events of Brain Awareness Week. Brain Awareness Week is … Continue reading #Brain Awareness Week: The Role of Animals in Neuroscience
Openness Improves the Public’s Perception of Animal Research
March 9th, 2022Chris Petkov Much of the public supports vital animal research conducted in the most humane way possible. Yet, animal rights activists, seeking to end all animal research regardless of its societal worth, continue to propagate the perception that animal research is cruel, unnecessary, hidden and not supported by the public or government. The … Continue reading Openness Improves the Public’s Perception of Animal Research
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