There has been a lot of media coverage on the recent claims by Dr. Sergio Canavero that he has successfully transplanted the head of a monkey on to a donor body of another monkey. This story, originally posted by the New Scientist, has since gone viral with some touting miracle cures for paralysis, while others … Continue reading PR, ethics, and the science of head transplants
Category: Science News
Where should US chimpanzees live?
Understanding what research is, what it means, and how chimpanzees are cared for in captive settings matters to decisions, the animals, public interests, and preventing unintended consequences. Ongoing decisions and news coverage about US chimpanzee research have provoked continuing debate and raised questions about the best course of action for the animals, science, and public … Continue reading Where should US chimpanzees live?
Germany publishes 2014 animal research statistics
Germany has published in statistics that show the number of animals used for research and testing in 2014. Germany carried out 2,798,463 procedures on animals in 2014, 6.6% fewer than in 2013. The fall in the number of experiments is mainly due to a reduction in the numbers of mice used. There was a significant … Continue reading Germany publishes 2014 animal research statistics
Preventing neuronal death: the future of stroke therapy
In neurological research the importance of neuronal death is well known, as are its implications for the normal functions of your brain. Many serious neurological conditions, such as stroke, epilepsy, traumatic brain injuries, and degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Chorea, are a direct consequence of this type of neuronal death, which determines the clinical … Continue reading Preventing neuronal death: the future of stroke therapy
UK Government Minister says animal research is ‘vital tool’ for developing new treatments
Patrick Grady, the shadow Scottish National Party spokesman on International Development, recently asked the Government in parliamentary question, on 26th October 2015, if they would “issue a response to EDM 373, Applying Results of Experiments on Animals to Humans.” Early Day Motion’s (EDMs) are regularly used by lobbyists to push their agenda, however their actual … Continue reading UK Government Minister says animal research is ‘vital tool’ for developing new treatments
One step closer to a vaccine for cytomegalovirus: Monkeys transmit CMV the same way as humans
Today's guest post is by Jordana Lenon, Wisconsin National Primate Research Center and Kathy West, California National Primate Research Center. Researchers at Duke and Tulane take the lead, the National Primate Research Centers provide critical resources and expertise in this first-ever proof of CMV placental transmission in nonhuman primates. Researchers now have a powerful new … Continue reading One step closer to a vaccine for cytomegalovirus: Monkeys transmit CMV the same way as humans
Animal Experiments in the UK: Government releases 2014 statistics
The UK Home Office has published its annual statistics showing the number of procedures carried out on animals covered by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, 1986; this covers all vertebrate species. It shows that in 2014 there was a 6% fall in the number of procedures, from 4.12 million down to 3.87 million. Overall, 96.5% … Continue reading Animal Experiments in the UK: Government releases 2014 statistics
NABR letter: “Is the American Association for the Advancement of Science Anti-Science?”
The letter below, from Frankie Trull of the National Association for Biomedical Research, is reprinted with permission from NABR. It was sent on October 8, 2015 to Dr. Rush Holt, Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; Dr. Marcia K. McNutt, Editor-in-Chief, Science family of journals, AAAS; and Mr. Tim Appenzeller, … Continue reading NABR letter: “Is the American Association for the Advancement of Science Anti-Science?”
Speaking of Research 