March 1st marked the end to NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly’s 340-day space mission on the International Space Station (ISS). The overall goal of Kelly’s mission was to study behavioral and physiological effects of prolonged exposure to space in order to better understand how NASA can better prepare for a mission to Mars. Recent media has … Continue reading Scott Kelly and Beyond: How rodents are being utilized by NASA and the ISS
Author: speakingofresearch
The Netherlands publishes their 2014 animal research statistics
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit, NVWA) have produced statistics showing the number of procedures carried out on animals in 2014. The total number of procedures carried out on animals in 2014 was 563,769 procedures, up 25% from 2013. Mice, rats, birds and fish are the most commonly used animals, … Continue reading The Netherlands publishes their 2014 animal research statistics
NC3Rs announce international 3Rs prizewinners
The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) is a primarily UK Government-funded organisation which works in collaboration with scientists and research institutions “driving and funding innovation and technological developments that minimise the need for animals in research and testing, and lead to improvements in welfare where animals continue … Continue reading NC3Rs announce international 3Rs prizewinners
Pro-Test: The demonstration that changed a decade
“No more threats, no more fear, animal research wanted here”. On February 25th 2006 that chant, and many others, rang out across the city of Oxford. Around 1,000 students, scientists and patients marched through the streets both to demonstrate support for the building of a new animal research facility, and to protest against the animal … Continue reading Pro-Test: The demonstration that changed a decade
New Zealand publishes 2014 statistics on animal research
Speaking of Research tries to keep up to date with the latest animal research statistics being published around the world. For the second time we are taking a look at New Zealand's annual statistics, as the Ministry for Primary Industries has just published it's 2014 annual report. The report begins with a brief explanation of when and … Continue reading New Zealand publishes 2014 statistics on animal research
Macaque study explores best route of oxytocin administration
Oxytocin is a natural brain peptide most commonly thought of as the “love hormone” for its role in social bonding: it spikes during social contact, play, cuddling, and sex. Because of extensive research in animals including prairie voles, sheep, and monkeys demonstrating that oxytocin promotes affiliative behaviors and social bonding1,2, oxytocin is increasingly being studied … Continue reading Macaque study explores best route of oxytocin administration
Community Outreach: Talking about the animals
Many of us that work in biomedical research often are confronted with the dreaded question: “What do you do for a living?” The anxiety of the inevitable conversation about animal research can be palpable. One may ask, “Do I tell them the truth and get into a debate about the ethics of animal research? Or … Continue reading Community Outreach: Talking about the animals
Guest Post: Obama’s Cancer Initiative and Animal Research
This is the one of the first posts of a new FBR blog which aims to provide people with relevant, timely and scientifically substantive information about how biomedical research is saving lives. This post was originally posted here, and is reprinted with permission from the Foundation for Biomedical Research. This blog was posted for yesterday's World Cancer Day. … Continue reading Guest Post: Obama’s Cancer Initiative and Animal Research
Speaking of Research 