Category: Science News

YES to Animal Welfare and NO to a Ban on Animal Research

The following is a guest piece by Prof. Michael Hengartner of the Basel Declaration. An organization founded in Germany to promote well-regulated humane research using animals. The Goals of the Basel Declaration and the Basel Declaration Society Animal welfare and scientific and medical progress are not contradictory. More than 800 international researchers have already shown … Continue reading YES to Animal Welfare and NO to a Ban on Animal Research

Good Lord! They’re Defending Animal Research

Individual European governments are currently working out how to translate a new EU Directive on Animal Research into their own national laws. It would seem a good time for governments to be talking about the benefits of well-funded, humane research using animals. Wait a minute .... the British Parliament are. To ask Her Majesty's Government … Continue reading Good Lord! They’re Defending Animal Research

Guest post: Efforts to ban chimpanzee research are misguided.

The status and future of chimpanzee research in the US are at the heart of much discussion lately in both scientific and public spheres.  Discussion of human relationships with the great apes, their role in research—past, present, and future—and our responsibility for their continued care deserve thoughtful, well-informed consideration by both the scientific community and … Continue reading Guest post: Efforts to ban chimpanzee research are misguided.

A paralysed man touches his girlfriend’s hand…thanks to animal research.

Earlier this year we reported that scientists at the University of Pittsburgh had launched clinical trials of two different brain implant systems, known as brain machine interfaces,  that aim to give quadriplegic patients control over a prosthetic limb. At the time we noted that this technology was built on years of basic and translational research … Continue reading A paralysed man touches his girlfriend’s hand…thanks to animal research.

All in a day’s work: Scientists promote alternatives

Once upon a time, the medication BoTox (made by a company called Allergan) was tested for its potency, on a batch by batch basis, in living animals. This medication, which is really a protein derived from bacteria, has many important therapeutic purposes. For example, it has been shown to be very effective in the treatment … Continue reading All in a day’s work: Scientists promote alternatives

Mice and macaques pave the way for effective HIV vaccines

There is encouraging news this week on the prospects for an effective vaccine against HIV. A  research team led by Professor Mariano Esteban at the Spanish Superior Scientific Research Council (CSIC) have announced that the vaccine MVA-B elicited a persistent immune response against HIV in  85% of volunteers in a phase 1 clinical trial. MVA-B … Continue reading Mice and macaques pave the way for effective HIV vaccines

Speaking of Statistics

We recently updated the statistics page of the website. Here are the highlights: The numbers of dogs used in research was at its lowest rate since measurements began in the 1970s. The current figure is less than 1/3 of its number in the late 1970s. The number of cats used remains at a general low … Continue reading Speaking of Statistics