Animal research Tomorrow is deeply concerned about recent legislative efforts of the US Congress to ban animal research in all institutions receiving federal funding. These developments raise significant anxieties in the scientific community about the future of medical and scientific progress, and the potential impact on both human and animal health.
Animal models still play an irreplaceable role in scientific discovery and will do so in the forceable future. Many crucial medical breakthroughs, from vaccines to organ transplants, were achieved through animal research. The complexity of living organisms, particularly when studying diseases that affect multiple systems, cannot be fully replicated with alternative methods like cell cultures or computer simulations. Therefore, eliminating animal research could severely hinder the development of new treatments and cures for a wide range of diseases. Furthermore, animal testing provides a critical step in ensuring that new drugs and devices are safe for human use. Without this step, the risks associated with clinical trials would likely increase. This also impacts veterinary medicine, where animal research is vital for developing treatments for animal diseases.
A complete prohibition of animal research would fundamentally alter the landscape of medical and scientific progress, with potentially severe repercussions. The most immediate and significant consequence would be a dramatic slowdown in the development of new treatments and cures for a vast array of diseases. The ability to test the safety and effectiveness of new drugs and medical devices would be significantly compromised, potentially leading to increased risks for human patients. Furthermore, research into fundamental biological processes, essential for understanding disease mechanisms and developing novel therapies, would be curtailed. Veterinary medicine would also suffer, hindering advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of animal diseases. A ban in the USA is bound to lead to a shift of biomedical research to countries with less stringent regulations, raising ethical concerns and diminishing American competitiveness and scientific standing. Responsible animal research is already heavily regulated and guided by principles like the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement). Well-intentioned but ultimately detrimental policies could significantly impede the ability to address critical health challenges and ultimately harm both humans and animals.
We urge our members in the USA to folllow the call to action of the National Association for Biomedical Research through this link, and help to saveguard biomedical science.