I recently read a report called: Scientific research
and animal experimentation – the state of the question or taking stock if you
prefer. It was written in May this year and issued by the Veterinary Academy of
France. The conclusion of the report was issued as an opinion to the General
Assembly of the Veterinary Academy of France and adopted by it on the 21st
of June, 2012.
The report is well written, concise yet articulated
enough to take the reader through various aspects of animal research and why it
is needed. The report is unapologetic
although accommodating in tone, if not spirit and an important step in the right
direction by a scientific body in support of those that over many years are
under attack by animal extremists. One can only wish that more entities will
join the effort and stand up to animal research and highlight its contributions
to society.
The report contains a summary, an introduction, three
chapters, a conclusion, bibliography, some annexes and a glossary, for a total
of 109 pages. For those of you that master the French language you can read or download the
report from here:http://www.recherche-animale.org/lexperimentation-animale-evaluee
From its summary one can read that in accordance with
the societal needs of longevity and health, research in biological and medical
sciences builds largely on animal research. In a society where the place of an
animal has considerably evolved, the use of animals for research purposes is
increasingly questioned despite its historical justification. The controversies,
that oppose researchers to a part of society, have as origins convictions and
beliefs that cannot be modified or changed by means of rational arguments.
These beliefs are furthermore strengthened by a global sentiment of defiance
towards science even though paradoxically expectations towards (medical)
progress and safety (health) have never been as high.
The first chapter is called a societal debate and
talks about the necessity of biomedical research to our societies of yesterday,
today and tomorrow. It points to animal research as a fundamental aspect of the
scientific approach towards health. Further subsections deal with the
historical background to animal research and the different medical milestones
achieved naming the animal species used and the resulting benefit. The
positions of both researchers and their opponents are further discussed and
elaborated upon. Regulatory instruments, oversight and amount of animals used
are also provided. Not surprisingly here, rodents continue to be the flagship
species and primates the exception rather than the norm.
In the second chapter animal models are discussed, as
are replacement and alternative models in research. The conclusions from this
chapter cast a light on animal research that is often overlooked, ignored or
deliberately obscured by those that oppose animal use.
The
complexity of organisms cannot be modeled through the addition of elementary
biological systems. It is the highly integral nature of life that leads the
disciplines of biology in general and the biomedical discipline in particular
to the use of more complex systems found in animals that are similar to those
in humans.
Furthermore
results found through in vitro models must necessarily go through in vivo tests
when integrated into an entire system.
This is true for fundamental research, be it physiological,
immunological or genetic in nature and also applies to research concerning
knowledge or understanding of physio-pathological mechanisms, the basis of
surgical and medical therapies.
From the preceding two chapters, four main principles
emerge to form the third chapter and that are cast as potential foundations of academic
behaviour. These would be:
·
To re-affirm an undeniable preamble: in the current
state of science, the use of animals in research is essential to progress
knowledge and the advancement of medicine.
·
To express respect towards research animals based on
their character of sentient beings and their common phylo-genetic origins with
mankind.
·
To recognise that the experimental process in biology
in general and bio-medical research in particular, uses without any preference
and in an objective manner, the whole of the methodological possibilities
created by it.
·
To define the conditions of a societal debate based on
knowledge and mutual respect.
In its opinion on animal research, its role and
perception in society the Veterinary Academy of France considers that (not an
exhaustive enumeration- see document for full details):
In human and animal health, society expresses an
increasing demand which in turn requires a considerable effort from research;
That animal research has played and continues to play
a decisive role in the accumulation of biological knowledge and in
contributions to the progress of medicine;
That experimentation on humans can only be envisioned
on a limited number of situations, strictly defined by bio-ethical principles
such as in clinical trials indispensible to the evaluation of new treatments
and that as a consequence the use of laboratory animals in research remains unavoidable,
in particular when evaluating harmlessness and efficacy of any therapeutic
innovation.
The academy further re-affirms the irreplaceable role
of animal models in research of life sciences, fundamental and biomedical; a
research that would only rely on in vitro and in silico models would limit
itself whilst ignoring the complexities of the biological processes at the
organism level.
In its recommendations the academy supports the
further optimal and reasoned use of animals in research and that the societal
dialogue continues in order for biomedical research to proceed with
determination and in line with societal expectations whilst considering the
concept of an evolving man to animal relationship.
As I said at the start of this post the report is a
welcome step by a credible scientific body. As important is the need to refute
animal extremist claims that are based on half truths, misinterpretation or
simply spin. Whilst the popularity of fending for animals is undeniable so are
the multiple actions undertaken by research to save the lives of us all,
including animals. What prevents you to claim your right to fame or to simply
stand up for the valuable work you do?
You can join the action by reading the posts on the
blog roll (on the right), follow tweets by like minded organisations or
individuals, educate friends, children and colleagues around you about animal
research, contribute by writing a guest post on a blog, start a discussion on a
Linked in forum or leave a comment on a web page when you see wrong or one
sided information. Work with your industry associations and inform regulators
of the importance of your work. Sign petitions in support of medical advancement
and medical charities.
Of course as always nothing beats a real life time
example of medical progress as is illustrated here by my colleagues of speaking
of research http://speakingofresearch.com/2012/12/17/brain-machine-interface-success-allows-paralysed-woman-to-feed-herself-for-first-time-in-a-decade/
Remember that without your informing the public what
it is you do, ignorance will prevail and animal extremists will continue to
claim high moral grounds unopposed!
