Keeping research afloat

PhD Student Peter Wright (NHLI) writes about a petition he is organising to protect transportation of animals for medical research.

 “As a PhD student at the National Heart and Lung Institute I conduct research into heart failure using animal models.

Animal experimentation is a central pillar of modern medical research. Every Nobel Prize awarded for Physiology or Medicine over the last 40 years (save for one in plant science) has been informed by animal work. Yet there are individuals and groups who claim in vivo research is devoid of scientific value. Some are well-funded charities and all claim to represent the majority of the public.

Recently they have caused huge disruption for the scientific community. Ferry companies and airlines have stopped essential transportation of animals destined for UK research labs. This is in response to concerted lobbying and, in the worst cases, intimidation of employees.

Somewhat understandably these companies have bowed to this pressure and ceased to handle animals for research. The use of specialist couriers will make the process of research slower and more expensive.

Animal rights groups have exerted undemocratic pressure on the UK research community and the wider economy. Their moral arguments, which they often support with pseudoscience, continue to convince a sizeable segment of the population. It is time for universities and researchers to present the true scientific argument for in vivo research.

For this reason I’m petitioning the Government to persuade these organisations to resume transport of animals for medical research. The government should then protect the legitimate right of these companies to do so."

You can sign the e-petition Protect transportation of animals for medical research