From preventing polio to finding cures for cancer patients, animal research has saved countless lives. Using animals in research is a concern to some; however, the benefits derived from the ethical, humane use of laboratory animals for biomedical research are huge.
What animal should I research?
Wildlife research
- Field studies. Many wildlife studies focus on conservation and management, with the aim of learning about the ecology of a population in the field.
- Captive studies. In general, wild-caught animals should be kept in captive conditions that conform as closely as possible to their natural habitat (e.g. ...
- The 3Rs. ...
- Legal controls. ...
- References. ...
Why do we use animals in research?
The committee reviews all animal care and use protocols to ensure:
- that the use of animals is necessary to achieve the stated objectives,
- that pain and distress is minimized, and
- that all the laws and policies for the use of animals are followed.
Why is animal research good?
Animals are good research subjects for a variety of reasons. They are biologically similar to humans and susceptible to many of the same health problems. Also, they have short life-cycles so they can easily be studied throughout their whole life-span or across several generations.
Should animals be used in research?
There are several reasons why the use of animals is critical for biomedical research: • Animals are biologically very similar to humans. In fact, mice share more than 98% DNA with us! • Animals are susceptible to many of the same health problems as humans – cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc.
How does animal research help humans?
Animal research has also made people healthier, since it has contributed to virtually eliminating many infectious diseases like polio or rheumatic fever that can be debilitating without causing death.
Does animal research help save human lives?
Animal research has contributed to many medical advances which we now take for granted. Antibiotics, anaesthetics, organ transplants and insulin for diabetes are just some of the breakthroughs that have depended on animal research. The polio vaccine alone has saved millions of lives.
How does animal testing benefit animals and humans?
Animal research has also been integral to the preservation of many endangered species. The ability to eliminate parasitism, treat illnesses, use anesthetic devices, and promote breeding has improved the health and survival of many species.
What are the pros of animal research?
PROAnimal testing contributes to life-saving cures and treatments.Animal testing is crucial to ensure that vaccines are safe.There is no adequate alternative to testing on a living, whole-body system.Animals are appropriate research subjects because they are similar to human beings in many ways.More items...
What are the pros and cons of animal testing?
Pros & Cons of Animal TestingPro: Life-Saving Medications and Vaccines. The landscape of modern medicine would unquestionably be vastly different without animal testing in the mix. ... Con: Inhumane Treatment in Animal Experimentation. ... Pro: Similarity to Humans. ... Con: Lack of Applicability. ... Alternatives to Animal Testing.
How effective is animal testing?
Because animal tests are so unreliable, they make those human trials all the more risky. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has noted that 95 percent of all drugs that are shown to be safe and effective in animal tests fail in human trials because they don't work or are dangerous.
Why do we test on animals instead of humans?
When a new drug or surgical technique is developed, society deems it unethical to use that drug or technique first in human beings because of the possibility that it would cause harm rather than good. Instead, the drug or technique is tested in animals to make sure that it is safe and effective.
How does animal testing save lives?
Animal Testing and Research Achievements Studies with monkeys, dogs, and mice led to the polio vaccine. Drugs used to combat cancer, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer's, hepatitis, and malaria would not have been possible without research with primates.
How has animal testing helped science?
Surgical procedures, pain relievers, psychoactive drugs, medications for blood pressure, insulin, pacemakers, nutrition supplements, organ transplants, treatments for shock trauma and blood diseases—all have been developed and tested in animals before being used in humans.
Rapid Response
Pound et al. (1) take an extremely narrow approach to the question: 'Where is the evidence that animal research benefits humans?', and they misinterpret their own data.
Animal Research and Human Benefit
Pound et al. (1) take an extremely narrow approach to the question: 'Where is the evidence that animal research benefits humans?', and they misinterpret their own data.
Why are animals important for biomedical research?
There are several reasons why the use of animals is critical for biomedical research: • Animals are biologically very similar to humans. In fact, mice share more than 98% DNA with us! • Animals are susceptible to many of the same health problems as humans – cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc.
Why are animals important to scientists?
Until such a discovery, animals must continue to play a critical role in helping researchers test potential new drugs and medical treatments for effectiveness and safety, and in identifying any undesired or dangerous side effects, such as infertility, birth defects, liver damage, toxicity, or cancer-causing potential.
What percentage of animals are used in biomedical research?
It is important to stress that 95% of all animals necessary for biomedical research in the United States are rodents – rats and mice especially bred for laboratory use – and that animals are only one part of the larger process of biomedical research.
What is Stanford's responsibility?
Stanford Researchers are Obligated to Ensure the Well-Being of All Animals in Their Care. Stanford researchers are obligated to ensure the well-being of animals in their care, in strict adherence to the highest standards, and in accordance with federal and state laws, regulatory guidelines, and humane principles.
Why is animal research important?
The use of animals in some forms of biomedical research remains essential to the discovery of the causes, diagnoses, and treatment of disease and suffering in humans and in animals.
What is the ethics of animal experimentation?
The ethics of animal experimentation. Nothing so far has been discovered that can be a substitute for the complex functions of a living, breathing, whole-organ system with pulmonary and circulatory structures like those in humans.
Do humans benefit from veterinary testing?
Not only do we humans benefit from this research and testing, but hundreds of drugs and treatments developed for human use are now routinely used in veterinary clinics as well, helping animals live longer, healthier lives.
Assessing animal research
Despite the lack of systematic evidence for its effectiveness, basic animal research in the United Kingdom receives much more funding than clinical research. 1 4 5 Given this, and because the public accepts animal research only on the assumption that it benefits humans, 6 the clinical relevance of animal experiments needs urgent clarification.
Systematic reviews of animal research
We searched Medline to identify published systematic reviews of animal experiments (see bmj.com for the search strategy). The search identified 277 possible papers, of which 22 were reports of systematic reviews. We are also aware of one recently published study and two unpublished studies, bringing the total to 25.
Implications
The clinical trials of nimodipine and low level laser therapy were conducted concurrently with the animal studies, while the clinical trials of fluid resuscitation, thrombolytic therapy, and endothelin receptor blockade went ahead despite evidence of harm from the animal studies.
Conclusion
The contribution of animal studies to clinical medicine requires urgent formal evaluation. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the existing animal experiments would represent an important step forward in this process.
Acknowledgments
We thank the Society for Accountability of Animal Studies in Biomedical Research and Education ( http://www.s-a-b-r-e.org/) for help in obtaining some of the studies and Margaret Burke for help with the search strategy.
Footnotes
Contributors The authors include one sociologist and four epidemiologists, three of whom conduct systematic reviews for the Cochrane Collaboration.