Beware, take action for animal research

I have blogged about the value of the non human primate model in research. Now is the time to voice your support towards such research. Faseb has issued the following action alert asking you to contact your US Senators to protect the humane use of animals in research.

You need to oppose S810, the Great Ape protection and Cost savings act. Follow the link here.



images courtesy http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/resources/image-library/?c=16&return_url=%252Fresources%252Fimage%252Dlibrary%252F

Here's the details:

The Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act (S 810) would prohibit the use of chimpanzees and other great apes in biomedical research, which could have severe consequences for ongoing studies seeking prophylactic vaccines for hepatitis C and safety testing of monoclonal antibody therapies. The bill would also halt ongoing research that could benefit great apes themselves, such as development of an Ebola vaccine for wild gorillas and chimpanzees, whose population is being ravaged by the disease. Most importantly, the bill would make it impossible for scientists to act quickly in the event that apes are needed to study a newly emerging infectious disease.
Supporters of the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act (GAPSCA) claim that chimpanzees in research are being mistreated and that chimpanzee research is unnecessary.

These claims are false:
(1) Chimpanzee research is conducted under strict regulatory oversight.

Federally-funded chimpanzee research is subject to the Animal Welfare Act, the PHS Policy on Humane Care and Use of Animals, and AAALAC accreditation. GAPCSA supporters exaggerate the incidence of problems and assert that outdated practices such as single housing in small cages are the norm. Standards for the care of chimpanzee have changed dramatically in recent years and have become more demanding as our understanding of their behavioral needs has increased. Animals are typically housed in large enclosures with access to both indoor and outdoor areas. Environmental enrichment is required, and they are housed socially except when isolation is necessary for health reasons.

(2) An expert panel convened by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2011 concluded that research with chimpanzees may still be needed.
Because chimpanzees are intelligent and social animals, the panel recommended strict criteria to determine when the research is necessary. While the IOM report noted that the need for chimpanzee research has decreased as alternatives have become available, it is important to maintain the capacity for this research in the event of future disease challenges. NIH is taking steps to implement the IOM's criteria, including determining whether the research addresses an important health problem; whether there is an alternative research model; and what impact the research would have on the animals themselves.
TAKE ACTION: Use the form on this link to let your Senators know that you oppose the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act.

images courtesy http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/resources/image-library/?c=16&return_url=%252Fresources%252Fimage%252Dlibrary%252F