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List of medical scientists for human health and against animal experiments "Animal model systems differ from their human counterparts. Conclusions drawn from animal research, when applied to human beings, are likely to delay progress, mislead, and do harm to the patient. Vivisection, or animal experimentation, should be abolished." Dr. Moneim Fadali, M.D., F.A.C.S., Diplomat American Board of Surgery and American Board of Thoracic Surgery, UCLA faculty, Royal College of Surgeons of Cardiology, Canada. President, Doctors and Lawyers for Responsible Medicine (UK) "Not only are the studies themselves often lacking even face value, but they also drain badly needed funds away from patient care needs." Dr. Neal Barnard, M.D., President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), Washington (US) “An awareness is growing that new methodologies are required to gain insight into important questions of human health and disease. Animal experimentation has not provided the hoped-for and much needed answers to these vital questions”. Dr Murry Cohen M.D. Chairman, Medical Research Modernization Committee (US) Safer Medicines Campaign “It is regarded by many in the scientific community
as indefensible to conduct more research while existing research has yet to
be evaluated. This principle already applies to clinical research and is
monitored through organisations such as the Cochrane Collaboration but the
same principle should apply to animal studies while they form a part of
preclinical science. In a recent letter to the Lancet it was noted that
“...academia as a whole has still not grasped that it is unscientific and
unethical to embark on new research without first analysing systematically
what can be learned from existing research; or that it is impossible for
consumers of research results to assess what contribution a new study has
made unless its results have been set systematically in the context of an
up-to-date review of the totality of the relevant evidence.” Society for Accountability of Animal Studies in Biomedical Research and Education5. “The track record of primate research is abysmal. The abandonment of animal models is absolutely vital for medicine to advance.” – Dr Ray Greek MD, Medical Director of Americans For Medical Advancement.
C. Ray Greek, MD, is a physician who is board certified in anesthesiology and sub-specialty certified in Pain Management. He was an instructor at two of the United States' most prestigious medical schools and has published in the medical literature. Along with his wife, who is a veterinarian, he has written 3 books on the scientific fallacy of attempting to extrapolate the results of animal experiments to humans. Sacred Cows & Golden Geese (Continuum 2000) was their first; the foreword was written by Jane Goodall. Specious Science (Continuum 2002) addressed the issue in a little more scientific depth. What Will We Do If We Don't Experiment On Animals? (Trafford 2004) examined the research modalities available instead of animals.
Professor Claude Reiss, Director of Alzheim' R&D. Also Scientific Director of Antidote-Europe 7. 'Transgenesis may well be scientifically intriguing and challenging, but it is also a folly. GM animals have made a negative contribution to human medicine. Human-specific research and cutting-edge technologies are the only way to achieve safe, efficient cures and treatments for human diseases. Competition for medical sector funding remains acute, so an important choice confronts society: directing more sources at animal-based research with a fruitless track record or supporting work that is directly relevant to the patients of today and tomorrow.' (for the full report, entitled “Man or Mouse”, please visit http://www.animalaid.org.uk/viv/manmouse.htm) Dr Jarrod Bailey PhD, Scientific Director of Europeans for Medical Progress 8. "With the ending of animal experimentation, a great evil will be lifted from the earth, which will have untold and far-reaching benefits for health and the life on this planet."
Andre Menache, BSc(Hons) BVSc MRCVS FRSH Past President of Doctors and Lawyers for Responsible Medicine (UK). Currently scientific consultant to Animal Aid (UK). See also:
Curiosity Killed the Dog An Animal Aid report on the use of animals in Basic Research http://www.animalaid.org.uk/viv/curiosity.htm Lethal Business - The use of animals in toxicity testing http://www.animalaid.org.uk/viv/lethal.htm Non-animal testing methodologies appropriate for regulatory toxicologyUltimately, and not surprisingly, the best model for the study of humans is the human being. What follows are examples of non- invasive, human-based methodologies for toxicity testing. It is these, and similar systems, that should become the focus of attention and investment for industry and regulators. It is both noteworthy and disturbing to see how far behind the US the UK position is, in terms of progress towards regulatory acceptance of these methodologies. There are, however, signs that some cooperation is taking place across the Atlantic on the issue of database development.
Toxicogenomics
Toxicogenomics is a modern scientific discipline that combines knowledge of toxicology and gene function. It can be used to obtain species-specific data that can be applied to any living cell system (plant, animal or human). In addition, toxicogenomics can be employed to study any chemical, whether it is a food additive, a pesticide, or a medical drug. When used in combination with high throughput screening methods, it is possible to study a large number of chemicals and to generate vast quantities of data with respect to possible cell damage. The results of these tests can be obtained in 24 - 48 hours. Animal tests often require up to two years to complete. Toxicogenomics is already recognised as an important adjunct for the assessment of toxic risk in humans by the Food and Drug Administration in the USA and in Japan (ref. International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) - toxicogenomics and the risk assessment of chemicals for the protection of human health. Held at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany 17-19 November 2003).
Websites for non animal replacements in medical education
InterNICHE is the International Network for Humane Education
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