CNN – Researchers Standing up to Activists

"Researchers to animal-rights activists: We're not afraid" This is the sort of CNN headline we need to hear more about. The story covers the actions of two SR committee members, David Jentsch and Dario Ringach, who recently wrote a top-rated journal article in the Journal of Neuroscience. Also mentioned is Professor Jeffrey Kordower's article in … Continue reading CNN – Researchers Standing up to Activists

Scientists affirm need to defend research

The recent commentary by Ringach and Jentsch (both Speaking of Research committee members) on need for scientists to defend biomedical research publicly is beginning to generate a consensus amongst top biomedical researchers around the world. Their commentary is now the top rated Biology article in the Faculty of 1000 system.  The Faculty of 1000 is … Continue reading Scientists affirm need to defend research

Basic science is fundamental science

I continue my series on some of the misconceptions of biomedical science (previously looking at the limits of fMRI and computer simulations) with a look at what basic science is. Some scientists devote their entire lives to understanding and describing key experimental phenomena in their fields of study: that is, they engage in “basic science”.  … Continue reading Basic science is fundamental science

The Limits of Computer Simulations

Following on from the last post about the limits of fMRI technology, we will now look further at the limits of another so called "alternative" - computer simulations. Animal rights groups also argue (Warning: AR website) that advanced computer simulations can replace the use of animals in our research.  This position, again, reflects the poor … Continue reading The Limits of Computer Simulations

The limits of fMRI

Animal rights groups often argue (Warning: AR Website) that new imaging technologies, such as fMRI, provide an alternative to invasive brain research in animals, accusing those doing animal work of failing to adopt these modern methods.  Such a position reflects a misunderstanding of what these instruments measure and their limitation in studying how the brain … Continue reading The limits of fMRI