The Importance of Animal Research

As a biomedical researcher, I firmly believe that the importance of animal research cannot be overstated. As eloquently expressed on the website of the Foundation for Biomedical Research:

Animal research has played a vital role in virtually every major medical advance of the last century – for both human and animal health. From antibiotics to blood transfusions, from dialysis to organ transplantation, from vaccinations to chemotherapy, bypass surgery and joint replacement, practically every present day protocol for the prevention, treatment, cure and control of disease, pain and suffering is based on knowledge attained through animal research.

Physicians and researchers overwhelmingly agree that animal systems provide invaluable and irreplaceable insights into human systems. The essential need for animal research is recognized and supported by medical societies and health agencies around the world.

Unfortunately, not everyone gets this point. Animal rights activists have fought for many years to end the legal and moral use of animals in research, or what they deem animal cruelty. The truth is, treatment of research animals in the United States is far from cruel. In fact, every institution in the United States that conducts animal research must establish an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, which oversees the use of animals in research and establishes guidelines that guarantee safe and ethical treatment of research animals.

As for the activists, they do not simply protest and voice their opinions. Animal rights activists are becoming increasingly violent. The video below describes a recent attack against Novartis:

A vacation home belonging to Novartis CEO Daniel Vasella was burned in a suspected arson, a week after his mother’s grave was vandalized by animal rights protesters. The words “Drop HLS Now” were spray painted on the grave, CNBC reports. The protesters want Novartis to sever its ties to Huntingdon Life Sciences, a contract company that does animal testing for drug companies.

When considering animal research, there are a few points that are important to remember. First of all, both humans and animals benefit from animal research. The US Department of Health and Human Services estimates that animal research has helped extend the human lifespan by approximately 23.5 years. Furthermore, those of us who are animal lovers and love our pets will be happy to know that animal research has significantly helped advance veterinary medicine. Again from the FBR website:

Many people believe that research with animals is conducted for the exclusive benefit of humans. In fact, practically all biomedical research with lab animals also advances veterinary medicine and helps companion animals live longer, happier and healthier lives. Dozens of diseases, affecting both humans and animals, are prevented through the administration of vaccines. Many other conditions are successfully treated, in both humans and animals, with antibiotics. From asthma and epilepsy, from high blood pressure to cancer, people and their pets share myriad diseases and therapies. And thanks to animal research, effective new drugs have been designed, sophisticated medical devices have been developed and remarkable surgical procedures have been perfected – for human and veterinary medical care.

For years, there was basically one way to treat sick pets: Put them to sleep. But today they can live happy, long lives. Because animal research has resulted in medical advances for both you and your four-legged family members.

Another thing that is important to remember is that scientists are not crazed villains seeking to destroy animal-kind. Scientists who conduct animal research, including myself, view animal research as a necessary evil. Unfortunately, until better alternatives are found, animal models represent the best methods to study diseases of both human and animal origin.

Luckily, it seems that the majority of people understand this and disapprove of the violent actions of animal rights groups. CNBC currently has a blog post discussing the above-mentioned Novartis attacks. On the site is an unscientific poll asking readers whether they believe animal research is necessary or should be abolished. Currently, 89% of respondents believe animal research is necessary.

This is good news, suggesting that the vast majority of the readers of an economic blog support the ethical use of animals in research. However, one of the primary goals of FundScience is to raise money to support research projects. Since some of these projects will, undoubtedly, require the use of animals, we want to poll our own readers and potential donors. What do you think of animal research? Feel free to leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments. If you support the ethical use of animals in research, please sign the petition here.