New report on scientists “In the line of fire”

March 25, 2022 Allyson J. Bennett, Amanda M. Dettmer  In a new report, Science writer Cathleen O'Grady provides a thought-provoking look at abuse directed at scientists. Her report focuses on COVID-19 scientists and includes stunning new survey data.  O'Grady connects the dots to other areas of science, like animal research and climate change, where scientists … Continue reading New report on scientists “In the line of fire”

Performative politics and animal research: When is a ban not a ban?

March 24, 2022Speaking of Research  From the EU to individual countries to small municipalities in the US there appears to be a new wave of trendy legislative efforts. The general idea is a proposal to ban some aspects of research or testing that involves nonhuman animals. The ban may take the form of directly interfering … Continue reading Performative politics and animal research: When is a ban not a ban?

Animal research makes COVID-vaccines more accessible globally

March 21st 2022Jeremy D. Bailoo While some countries appear to be emerging from the pandemic, many developing countries continue to struggle to vaccinate their citizens because they have limited access to the vaccine. Now, thanks to animal research, an inexpensive, easy-to-store, and effective alternative to RNA vaccines—a protein subunit vaccine—may be on the horizon. The researchers … Continue reading Animal research makes COVID-vaccines more accessible globally

Evergreen: Statistics out of context, predictability, and utility of animal models

March 18th 2022 In a recent letter to the US National Institutions of Health (NIH) , Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-CA) and Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) called for the NIH “to discontinue animal experiments and find alternatives to animal testing.” They write: “As Members of Congress, we are concerned the National Institutes of Health (NIH) … Continue reading Evergreen: Statistics out of context, predictability, and utility of animal models

#Brain Awareness Week: The Role of Animals in Neuroscience

March 17, 2022 If you’re a regular reader of the Speaking of Research science blog you will know that we are very interested in neuroscience – in fact several of us are neuroscientists – so you won’t be surprised to learn that we have been following events of Brain Awareness Week.  Brain Awareness Week is … Continue reading #Brain Awareness Week: The Role of Animals in Neuroscience

Openness Improves the Public’s Perception of Animal Research

March 9th, 2022Chris Petkov Much of the public supports vital animal research conducted in the most humane way possible. Yet, animal rights activists, seeking to end all animal research regardless of its societal worth, continue to propagate the perception that animal research is cruel, unnecessary, hidden and not supported by the public or government. The … Continue reading Openness Improves the Public’s Perception of Animal Research

How do the US National Primate Research Centers benefit science and society?

March 9, 2022Agnes Lacreuse, Amanda Dettmer, & Allyson J. Bennett Research with monkeys and other nonhuman primates (NHPs) is important for understanding threats to human health that range from Alzheimer's disease to cancer and diabetes, addiction, Parkinson’s disease, and more. This research is also a fundamental building block for understanding how the brain works, how … Continue reading How do the US National Primate Research Centers benefit science and society?

Guest Post: What Animal Rights Groups Don’t Tell You About Non-Animal Models

And How Scientists Can Effectively Communicate About It February 28th 2022 Guest Post By Naomi Charalambakis, PhDAssociate Director of Science PolicyFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Naomi Charalambakis, PhD It’s no secret that animal rights groups make a concerted—and often aggressive—effort to misrepresent the truth about scientific research with animals. Social media has … Continue reading Guest Post: What Animal Rights Groups Don’t Tell You About Non-Animal Models