Several recent articles have discussed problems that have arisen in translating findings from animal studies into clinical treatments.[1],[2],[3] Some have interpreted this limited translational success as evidence that animal studies are not useful in generating treatments for disease. We challenge that conclusion in light of all the medical advances that have stemmed from animal experiments. … Continue reading Advancing Medicine through Experiments on Animals: Room for Improvement?
Author: speakingofresearch
Everyday Progress – Keeping up with Research
Medical Progress is made every day around the world. Some involves cell cultures, some involves computers, and some involves animals. There are many ways of following these developments - in Science or Nature journals, on newspaper science pages, or on social media; such as the "I F***ing Love Science" page. There are also a few … Continue reading Everyday Progress – Keeping up with Research
Using Large Animals to Assess Safety of Medical Devices
This paper by Richard Bianco and Luis H. Toledo-Pereya has been edited with permission. Testing the safety of medical devices, such as cardiac valves and stents, in animals before they are introduced in human clinical trials is required for both ethical and legal reasons. Preclinical safety includes many improvements in technique, in vitro screening of … Continue reading Using Large Animals to Assess Safety of Medical Devices
Number of animal experiments in UK rose in 2012
Every year the UK Home Office publishes statistics showing the number of procedures carried out on animals covered by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, 1986; this covers all vertebrate species. Overall, the number of animal procedures rose from 3.79 million to 4.11 million animals (an 8% rise), while the number of animals,a small number of … Continue reading Number of animal experiments in UK rose in 2012
Senators welcome Pro-Test Italia
This post is based on a recent post by Pro-Test Italia that can be found here. On July 3, 2013, Pro-Test Italia was welcomed by Senators from several political parties to discuss the animal welfare and research implications of the new Italian law transposing the new EU Directive 2010/63/EU. Pro-Test Italia members had the opportunity … Continue reading Senators welcome Pro-Test Italia
PETA’s poor defence for beating up scientists
Last week we wrote about PETA’s new video game where you take the role of a famous Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter and travel around university and pharmaceutical labs assaulting scientists. PETA have been promoting this game for a while on Twitter with messages like: https://twitter.com/peta/status/344105252007596033 and https://twitter.com/peta/status/344122922073456640 posted at brief intervals over the past … Continue reading PETA’s poor defence for beating up scientists
PETA’s Mixed Martial Assault on Scientists
Video games have had their fair share of controversies over the past few decades. Games like Manhunt, Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 have all caused some measure of public outrage for their depictions of violence. However all three games had two things in common – they do not suggest they … Continue reading PETA’s Mixed Martial Assault on Scientists
Charities doing animal research outreach right
A while ago we assessed the five biggest medical research charities in the US for the strength of their position statements on animal research. None got more than 1 star our of 4. Yet good practise by charities for discussing animal research does exist. Take this example: Alzheimer’s Research UK has just produced a fantastic … Continue reading Charities doing animal research outreach right
Speaking of Research 