April 25th 2020 (originally posted 4/22/2019) In light of #WorldImmunizationWeek we are doing a series of posts which highlight facts pertaining to vaccine production, and how safety and efficacy is assessed (part 1). We also highlight the historical aspects that lead to the “anti-vaxxer” movement and why critical consideration of the facts pertaining to that … Continue reading #Evergreen: Celebrating #WorldImmunizationWeek 2020 – Vaccinations, how and why they work.
Category: Science News
Celebrating #WorldImmunizationWeek 2020: #VaccinesWorkforAll
April 24th 2020 It is timely, although perhaps unfortunately so, that #WorldImmunizationWeek starts today. This global public health campaign, to raise awareness and increase rates of immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases around the world takes place each year during the last week of April. The theme this year is #VaccinesWorkforAll and the campaign focuses on how … Continue reading Celebrating #WorldImmunizationWeek 2020: #VaccinesWorkforAll
COVID-19 vaccine shows efficacy in mice
April 3rd 2020 We are facing a major health threat in the COVID-19 disease, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared it a pandemic, with over 1 million cases (972,640 confirmed cases and 50,325 deaths) and with global fear and uncertainty increasing. As we wrote in January, … Continue reading COVID-19 vaccine shows efficacy in mice
Scientists to NIH leadership: Defend mental health research that is under attack
March 5th 2020 Once again, videos of monkeys in scientific research are generating headlines, reflecting the views of groups opposed to the use of animals in research. This time, videos from research aimed at identifying brain circuits involved in mental health studies conducted at the US National Institutes of Health are being misrepresented. Unfortunately, but … Continue reading Scientists to NIH leadership: Defend mental health research that is under attack
Baboon Escape: Australia sees result of silence about nonhuman primate research
March 4th 2020 As reported in The Guardian, “the escape of three baboons involved in research has sparked renewed calls for greater transparency in medical testing on animals in Australia.” https://twitter.com/9NewsSyd/status/1232208733733654528 The three baboons, one male and two female, were being transported to a veterinary facility associated with a Sydney hospital where the male was … Continue reading Baboon Escape: Australia sees result of silence about nonhuman primate research
Everyone Benefits When the Global Scientific Community Works Together
February 25th 2020 We have recently called for an end to xenophobia and international bias against scientists. For example, International Bias: Enough is Enough and Speaking of Research Calls for Support of Global Science. An open access article, recently published in the journal Neuron, is an excellent example of how everyone can benefit when the … Continue reading Everyone Benefits When the Global Scientific Community Works Together
#FactCheckNeeded: Is the use of animals for research declining in the EU?
February 19th 2020 You may have read recently or seen on social media platforms that, “the use of animals in scientific research seems to be declining in the European Union….” and accordingly, that this is due to the “EU tough regulations” that are “designed to protect research animals.” At first blush, these claims seem reasonable … Continue reading #FactCheckNeeded: Is the use of animals for research declining in the EU?
Ketamine antidepressant spray treatment not available for patients…because of cost?
February 6th 2020 There are many reasons a treatment might not be available for patients, but this one from a recommendation by a UK National Health Service (NHS) watchdog shocked us: the £10,000 cost for the treatment is too high to make available to patients with severe depression that might benefit from it!?!?!? Typically where … Continue reading Ketamine antidepressant spray treatment not available for patients…because of cost?
Speaking of Research 