In the news
21 Nov 2008
12 August 2006
Changing views of animal research
Scientists and philosophers from Italy, Britain and the Netherlands have reported on an EU-funded project reviewing animal research in its current scientific, ethical and societal contexts.
The project, called Anim.Al.See, focused particularly on the relevance today of the Three Rs principles, that is, the Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of animal experiments. It aimed to provoke informed discussion of the issue in the scientific community and the political arena.
Some of the project’s conclusions were very supportive of the work of the Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research and similar organisations to replace animal experiments.
The authors concluded:
- There is a mismatch between the concept that animals can stand in for humans where physiology and biochemistry are concerned, but that this analogy is denied significance when it comes to considering animals’ moral status.
- Current thinking is moving away from emphasising discontinuities between animals and humans, in favour of a more holistic and less human-centred world view.
- Interpreting animal research is more difficult than is often assumed, due to “...the complex differences between animals and human beings”.
- Technological advancement must be combined with ethical analyses to address, for instance, the justification of animal experiments; the value of animals and their suffering; and the responsibilities of humans to animals.
- Research funders and governments should be aware of the quality of research into replacing (and reducing and refining) animal experiments, and should increase their support of alternatives.
