Who’s Afraid to Talk about Animal Research?

The first post in a series that highlights different approaches to science outreach and education, particularly those focused on research with nonhuman animals.

The Animal Rights Network Grows

A network of animal rights blogs has revealed its latest creation. The Negotiation is Over blog, the Thomas Paine's Corner blog, Stephen Best and the North American Animal Liberation Press Office, have come together and ...formed the Alliance for Progressive Science (APS) to attack Pro-Torture on both scientific and ethical grounds. - Negotiation is Over … Continue reading The Animal Rights Network Grows

CNN Debate on Animal Research

The opening footage for the CNN Blogger Bunch discussion “Is animal testing necessary?” on Wednesday highlighted one of the reasons for a recent increase in public attention and media coverage of the role of animals in biomedical and behavioral research. The scorched front door of a scientist’s home illustrated the kind of “direct action” advocated … Continue reading CNN Debate on Animal Research

The Debate – CNN – Wednesday 9th November

Given the increasing media interest in the animal research issue CNN have decided to do a short web debate on Wednesday 9th November (tomorrow) . The debate starts noon EST (9am PST / 5pm GMT) and can be watched live on http://www.cnn.com/video/ - alternatively watch it afterward on CNN here. This  will hopefully put to … Continue reading The Debate – CNN – Wednesday 9th November

Opponents of animal research should get their facts right

Dr. Lawrence Hansen, along with fewer than a dozen other anti-research activists from PeTA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), demonstrated at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Chicago.  His opinion piece reveals that they were protesting neuroscience experiments on animals that, they maintain, will never benefit human health. In stark contrast, nearly 30,000 … Continue reading Opponents of animal research should get their facts right

Pro-Test for Science website revealed

Check out http://www.pro-test-for-science.org for the updated website. Pro-Test for Science, previously known as UCLA Pro-Test, became a major story in April 09 when they held a rally in support of biomedical research, mirroring the tactics of Pro-Test in the UK. At the rally the Pro-Test Petition was announced, and we urge the public to add … Continue reading Pro-Test for Science website revealed

Gene therapy for blindness – when dogged determination pays off!

Leber's congenital amaurosis is a progressive disorder that affects about 3,000 Americans, and hundreds of thousands worldwide, and causes a progressive loss of vision that usually results in blindness. The disease, for which there has until now been no effective treatment, is caused by a mutation in the encoding RPE65, an enzyme which is crucial … Continue reading Gene therapy for blindness – when dogged determination pays off!

So, what have we learned about the Brain?

One hundred years ago we knew almost nothing about the brain.  By all measures, neuroscience is really a field in its early infancy. What have we learned in this short period?  How has animals work contributed? Follow Charlie Rose in a his new “Brain Series” as he covers and celebrate the accomplishments of neuroscientists. In … Continue reading So, what have we learned about the Brain?