Over ten thousand supporters have signed their name to the Pro-Test Petition (www.raisingvoices.net), which supports the rights of scientists using animals in medical research to conduct their lifesaving research free from harassment. Among those supporting the petition are Nobel Laureates, including David Baltimore and David Hubel1, and members of the National Academy of Sciences and … Continue reading Ten Thousand Strong for Research
Raising Voices: Animal Research Advocacy and Community Engagement
Animal rights groups and extremists have raised a very loud chorus against animal research. Well-funded, media-savvy campaigns and over-the-top publicity stunts ensure that the public receives a biased and negative message about the role and value of animal studies. As a result of decades of investment in extensive campaigning, these groups have contributed to decreasing … Continue reading Raising Voices: Animal Research Advocacy and Community Engagement
Blind Dogs Lead Researchers to Treatments
Leber’s congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a form of blindness that affects about 1 in 80,000 people. This inherited disease, in which the retina progressively degenerates, results in severe loss of vision, and frequently patients can only see well enough to count fingers or see bright lights. Unfortunately, many of these patients also experience eye pain from … Continue reading Blind Dogs Lead Researchers to Treatments
Violence vs Non-Violence? The AR Debate!
A Fractured Movement? It is easy to believe that the animal rights movement is one giant bloc, working together to abolish animal research using tactics which range from the legal, to the dubious, to the outright criminal. However it is these range of tactics which prove to be the most divisive point for activists, and … Continue reading Violence vs Non-Violence? The AR Debate!
Mending a Broken Heart
An interesting item in the news today about research on repairing the damage to the heart caused by a heart attack. The report in PNAS can be read by those with a subscription at: While there have been several attempts to bioengineer cardiac tissue for transplant in vitro using starting from cells seeded onto a scaffold, … Continue reading Mending a Broken Heart
Just when you thought they couldn’t sink any lower…
... it seems we should never underestimate the depths to which the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) are prepared to lower themselves to.. A few weeks ago we covered the arson attack and graverobbing aimed at Novartis CEO, Daniel Vasella, where a family urn was stolen by animal rights extremists (see our new AR: Extremism section) … Continue reading Just when you thought they couldn’t sink any lower…
Open Letter to Dr. Greek
This is a copy of a letter written to Dr. Greek long ago (July 2003) in response to his request for a written contribution from me. Everything I say in this letter is the honest truth of what I think now, as I did then, with regard to cognitive neuroscience in the non-human primate. At … Continue reading Open Letter to Dr. Greek
Animal Care Technicians
Many misconceptions exist about exactly how animal research is conducted in laboratories. Some of the misconceptions come from a lack of awareness whereas others come in the form of intentional misinformation on the part of animal rights groups. Successful research relies on the dedication of many individuals with a variety of roles, from primary investigators … Continue reading Animal Care Technicians
Speaking of Research 