Testing on gorillas, chimpanzees and orang-utans 'might be needed'

[Guest guest]

Testing on apes 'might be needed'

BBC

3 June 2006

 

The government should not rule out the possibility of

allowing apes to be used in animal experiments, the

head of the Medical Research Council has said.

 

In 1997, the government said it would never approve

ape research because they were too similar to humans,

but there is no law prohibiting the practice.

 

Professor Colin Blakemore said such research might be

needed if it was the only way to cure a particular

disease.

 

Animal welfare groups want a ban on all primate

testing in Britain.

 

Currently 2,800 primates are used in medical research,

but the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical

Sciences are assessing whether genetically modified

rats and mice could be used instead.

 

A group of leading scientists have defended the use of

primates in a booklet - Primates in Medical Research -

which was published jointly by the MRC and the

Wellcome Trust.

 

Prof Blakemore said: " They (primates) are the only

appropriate model for research into such conditions as

cognition, but these very characteristics make them

appear most similar to people. "

 

Final test

 

He said the final test for any drug or treatment had

to be on humans, but added that 60% of potential drugs

were rejected at the animal testing stage.

 

These experiments are investigating diseases and

conditions such as Parkinson's, obsessive compulsive

disorder, schizophrenia, HIV and strokes.

 

However, the British Union for the Abolition of

Vivisection (BUAV) is publishing a report, due out on

Monday, which calls for a ban on testing on any

primates.

 

The publication has been backed by animal researcher

Jane Goodall, who described the testing as

" unethical " .

 

She said: " In reality, most people do not know - and

do not want to know - the grim reality of what happens

to non-human primates in laboratories. "

 

" Not only are many experiments on them unethical, many

are unnecessary, and their results may be misleading

because they were developed at a time when scientists

knew little about the effect of stress on the immune

system. "

 

Professor Sandy Thomas, director of the Nuffield

Council on Bioethics said: " It is important to be

aware that research involving the great apes, such as

gorillas, chimpanzees and orang-utans, is not

prohibited directly by law.

 

" However, licenses for this type of research are not

granted as a matter of current Home Office policy.

 

" The emergence of new diseases may mean that a

reassessment of this policy is required in the future.

On the other hand, the continued development of

non-animal methods for research may mean that

alternatives could be available, " said Prof Thomas.

 

" It is important that the necessity, usefulness and

relevance of specific types of animal research are

ascertained in each individual case. "

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5043328.stm

 

 

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