Opponents of animal research often portray two of the pioneers of experimental physiology, François Magendie (1783-1855) and his student Claude Bernard (1813-1878), as deranged, vicious, and sadistic individuals who derived pleasure in harming animals. Moral philosophers Peter Singer and Lori Gruen convey this sort of message in their book “Animal Liberation: A graphic guide”. A … Continue reading Crash course in medical history
Tag: animal research
Harlow Dead, Bioethicists Outraged
The philosophy and bioethics community was rocked and in turmoil Friday when they learned that groundbreaking experimental psychologist Professor Harry Harlow had died over 30 years ago. Harlow's iconic studies of mother and infant monkeys have endured for decades as the centerpiece of philosophical debate and animal rights campaigns. With news of his death, philosophers … Continue reading Harlow Dead, Bioethicists Outraged
Why is alcohol research with nonhuman animals essential?
The following guest post is from Jeff Weiner, a Professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Wake Forest School of Medicine. Dr. Weiner is the Director of an NIH-funded translational research grant that employs rodent, monkey and human models to study the neurobiological substrates that contribute to alcohol addiction vulnerability. He is also … Continue reading Why is alcohol research with nonhuman animals essential?
Undermining a cornerstone of medical research – examining a biased commentary on animal studies
Medical sociologist, Pandora Pound, and epidemiologist, Michael Bracken, recently wrote an opinion piece entitled "Is animal research sufficiently evidence based to be a cornerstone of biomedical research?" for the British Medical Journal. The article was chosen as the editor’s choice, leading to an editorial by the editor in chief, Fiona Godlee. Pound and Bracken criticise … Continue reading Undermining a cornerstone of medical research – examining a biased commentary on animal studies
Unpleasant Truths vs Comforting Lies
Scientists use animals in research to elucidate basic questions about biological function in health and disease. Such basic research in the life sciences, like parallel studies in other fields of science, yields knowledge about nature. Such knowledge, in turn, can be applied to a myriad of problems to alleviate suffering, improve our well-being, and make this a better … Continue reading Unpleasant Truths vs Comforting Lies
Kicking off a new era for neuroprosthetics, or just the warm-up?
Tonight, if everything goes according to plan, a young person will stand up in front of a global audience numbering in the hundreds of millions, walk a few paces, and kick a football. This by itself may not seem remarkable, after all this is the opening ceremony of the World Cup, but for the Miguel … Continue reading Kicking off a new era for neuroprosthetics, or just the warm-up?
The BUAV – Unsubstantiated Claims, Spies and Videotapes
The BUAV have infiltrated several UK animal laboratories in 2013, however the video footage they have sent to newspapers has shown important scientific research done carefully and with animal welfare in mind.
Speaking of Research Leaflet
When Speaking of Research first started we had a wonderful leaflet which was produced for us by Americans for Medical Progress. In the following six years, Speaking of Research has changed and evolved and as such we have been long overdue for a new leaflet, which we can now unveil. Download PDF here, or click … Continue reading Speaking of Research Leaflet
Speaking of Research 