This nice report from PBS Chicago describes how researchers at Northwestern University are using mice to study post-traumatic stress disorder, and get at the basic mechanisms of fear. They already have positive results with experimental drugs that could eventually be used to treat people and prevent traumatic memories from taking over their lives -- whether … Continue reading Have No Fear, Mice Are Here
Category: Science News
Survey: Your Views On Research
I was recently contacted by a member of the University of British Columbia Animal Welfare Program, who invited our members and supporters to complete a survey on the use of animals in science. The survey should take about 10 minutes and requires you to sign up (shouldn't take long). So when you have a few spare … Continue reading Survey: Your Views On Research
Novartis stands up for animal research
Pharmaceutical companies have traditionally tended to avoid direct involvement in the debate on animal research, even though they and their employees and contractors are among the more frequent targets of animal rights extremism, so I was delighted to see this new video from the leading pharmaceutical company Novartis on YouTube. That it is Novartis leading the way on this issue should … Continue reading Novartis stands up for animal research
A paralyzed man stands again…thanks to animal research!
Yesterday an article appeared in the New York Times describing how scientists, supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, have used electrical stimulation of the lower spinal cord to enable a man who had been completely paralyzed below chest level to stand again, and even to take steps … Continue reading A paralyzed man stands again…thanks to animal research!
Obesity, Smoking and Addiction
Morbid obesity and cigarette smoking represent the two most substantial causes of preventable death in the Western world. According to recent estimates, about 1/3 of all adult Americans are morbidly obese (meaning that their excess of body weight is large enough that it causes illness or disability), and these numbers are increasing; approximately 15% of … Continue reading Obesity, Smoking and Addiction
Fish for Science
Back in February I wrote about the prominent role of Zebrafish in the British Heart Foundation's Mending Broken Hearts campaign, an initiative that not only highlighted fascinating developments in regenerative medicine but also the degree to which the public attitude towards animal research has shifted in the past decade. One reason for the change in attitudes towards … Continue reading Fish for Science
Mice help scientists to understand the cancer genome
Yesterday I wrote about how studies carried out using genetically modified mice had enabled scientists to understand the role of the protein BLyS in the disease lupus, leading to the development of a new treatment, and last year I looked at how such studies were helping scientists to identify key genes that are involved in … Continue reading Mice help scientists to understand the cancer genome
Taming the Wolf: a new treatment for Lupus
Earlier today we posted a commentary on PeTA's misleading propaganda by Professor Anthony Garro of UMass Dartmouth. At the time I mentioned that it was a pity that Prof. Garro was not able to write more about the role of animal research in 21st century medicine, but a recent story in Nature News provides an excellent … Continue reading Taming the Wolf: a new treatment for Lupus
Speaking of Research 