Speaking of Research is saddened to learn about Harvard's decision to wind down operations at the New England Primate Research Center (NEPRC) within the next two years. Over the years the Primate Center has contributed important discoveries in many fields, including AIDS, Parkinson's disease, primate retroviruses, addiction, cardiology and stem cells. The University cited difficult … Continue reading Statement on Harvard’s Decision to Close the New England Primate Research Center
Tag: animal research
Pro-Test Italia in Milan: A silver lining to a grey cloud
In December 2012 we reported that scientists in Italy had founded Pro-Test Italia to counter the rising tide of ignorance and intimidation that threatens the future of science in Italy. Last weekend we heard about a new animal rights outrage in Italy. As reported in Nature News, activists broke into the Department of Pharmacology in … Continue reading Pro-Test Italia in Milan: A silver lining to a grey cloud
Not All In It Together
In February of this year I got into an argument on the SR blog comments section about whether we should be taking an all or nothing approach to animal use. If we wanted to best support the use of animals in biomedical research, should we also be defending eating animals, hunting animals, cosmetic testing, fur … Continue reading Not All In It Together
Treating Progeria; How GM mice give hope to some very special children
Something big is going on right now in the world of research. Something very specific for some very special children with a very rare disease. It may not be widely known by name but I am sure you have seen these children. The disease is called Progeria. From the Progeria Research Foundation's website, we learn: … Continue reading Treating Progeria; How GM mice give hope to some very special children
IVF pioneer Sir Robert Edwards dies aged 87
We are saddened to learn that IVF pioneer Professor Sir Bob Edwards has died at the age of 87, following a long illness. The University of Cambridge announced his death earlier today, noting that through his work Professor Edwards had improved the lives of millions of people around the world. Speaking about his former colleague, … Continue reading IVF pioneer Sir Robert Edwards dies aged 87
Speaking of Research: The Fifth Anniversary
If Speaking of Research was a person in the US, entering its sixth year of life, they should have received vaccines for the following: chickenpox, diphtheria, Hib, HepA, HepB, flu, measles, mumps, pertussis (Whooping Cough), polio, pneumococcal, rotavirus, rubella and tetanus (a similar schedule exists in the UK). All of these have depended on animal research … Continue reading Speaking of Research: The Fifth Anniversary
An Ongoing Conversation with Robert Streiffer on Science and Ethics
I would like to thank Prof. Robert Streiffer for taking the time to comment on an earlier post of mine regarding the ongoing dialogue on the ethics of animal research at UW-Madison. I had originally drafted an email to him with a reply, which is now reproduced below. I am sure the readers will forgive … Continue reading An Ongoing Conversation with Robert Streiffer on Science and Ethics
Liviya’s Story
Sometimes it may seem like our work doesn’t make a difference in the world. For a stark reminder that it does, we asked Brian Anderson at Allentown, Inc. to write a guest post in which he could share the very personal story of how animal research saved his daughter’s life. Virtually my entire career has … Continue reading Liviya’s Story
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