The debate has been raging, sparked by animal rights groups. Opposition to the use of chimps in research, ban on breeding in the USA, validity of chimpanzees as research models and even the keeping of chimps in research studies. No I am not a researcher nor am I looking for a cure for hepatitis C. I am not yet a victim of Parkinson's disease either. I do however care about what is happening to our healthcare systems and medical advancement.
Strangely enough Chimps are listed as endangered species, would that not be reason to support their breeding on a large scale? Some could be destined for research while others for re-introduction into the wild. Keeping a geneticaly diverse gene pool is critical in colonies but also in the wild. Some call this speciesm, well so be it. You can follow some of the recommendations on the use of chimps that came out of the United States IOM report here:
chimp research under scrutiny
I for one am interested in cures and saving lives of humans and animals alike, it is a top priority. I sure am not the only one, as you can witness from the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation towards medical research. As does the Michael J Fox foundation and there are plenty more. Researchers all over the world are providing hope to people. To those that are injured, those that suffer, those that are waiting for a transplant or a cure. Nevermind the debate - when you are ill or those around you affected, chances are that what you care about is to get better or to use the drugs that will cure you and alleviate your pains. And if you are willing to give up your organs for transplantation purposes, would you not want to ensure it works, even if it means testing on animals first? Sure you do, because it is exactly the reason for giving your organs, which is to save lives.
Scientists are making a compelling case towards the need for using animals including non human primates. They are however not marketing what they do as animal rights groups do. Researchers do not use guerilla type marketing with thousands of emails being send by like minded members. They do not call people targets and do not provide physical adresses of individuals involved in research over the internet for demonstration purposes.
So what is next ? Preventing the use of another primate species such as the macaque? Could it be that supply of non human primates be stopped, using the same techniques?
Take a look at this: activists ground primate flights .
Now ask yourself is your voice being heard? What about the voice of those that suffer or those that are affected by a disease? Shall we leave thousands if not millions of people struggling for themselves?
Here's what Roger Morris, Professor of Molecular Neurobiology at King's College London, has to say :
Strangely enough Chimps are listed as endangered species, would that not be reason to support their breeding on a large scale? Some could be destined for research while others for re-introduction into the wild. Keeping a geneticaly diverse gene pool is critical in colonies but also in the wild. Some call this speciesm, well so be it. You can follow some of the recommendations on the use of chimps that came out of the United States IOM report here:
chimp research under scrutiny
I for one am interested in cures and saving lives of humans and animals alike, it is a top priority. I sure am not the only one, as you can witness from the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation towards medical research. As does the Michael J Fox foundation and there are plenty more. Researchers all over the world are providing hope to people. To those that are injured, those that suffer, those that are waiting for a transplant or a cure. Nevermind the debate - when you are ill or those around you affected, chances are that what you care about is to get better or to use the drugs that will cure you and alleviate your pains. And if you are willing to give up your organs for transplantation purposes, would you not want to ensure it works, even if it means testing on animals first? Sure you do, because it is exactly the reason for giving your organs, which is to save lives.
Scientists are making a compelling case towards the need for using animals including non human primates. They are however not marketing what they do as animal rights groups do. Researchers do not use guerilla type marketing with thousands of emails being send by like minded members. They do not call people targets and do not provide physical adresses of individuals involved in research over the internet for demonstration purposes.
So what is next ? Preventing the use of another primate species such as the macaque? Could it be that supply of non human primates be stopped, using the same techniques?
Take a look at this: activists ground primate flights .
Now ask yourself is your voice being heard? What about the voice of those that suffer or those that are affected by a disease? Shall we leave thousands if not millions of people struggling for themselves?
Here's what Roger Morris, Professor of Molecular Neurobiology at King's College London, has to say :
"For complex diseases like Alzheimer's, animal research is vital to find effective and early diagnostic markers that allow treatment while it is still possible. We can reliably identify early stages in the brains of animals, and from there identify changes in people that signify early onset of the disease, before the brain is irreparably damaged. Without that we are unlikely to find effective therapies."
The UK Alzheimer's Society added that:
Although the exact causes of Alzheimer’s remain unknown, monkeys and GM mice with Alzheimer’s-like brain abnormalities are helping scientists to unlock the secrets of the disease. These animals have been crucial in identifying molecules in the brain that appear to play a role in disease development, and genetic mutations that confer susceptibility to Alzheimer’s. Animal studies have also confirmed that head injuries, obesity and inactivity increase disease risk.
Source: Understanding Animal Research in April 26th 2012 newsletter.
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