It is not only reduced funding, however, that threatens the future of biomedical research, but also the chilling effect of continued negative public relations, legal and regulatory actions, and physical harassment by the radical animal rights community that deters postdocs from following in the footsteps of senior research faculty. The resulting level of anxiety reduces constructive collegial exchange about research questions and the appropriate use of animal models, which can encourage curiosity and new investigation. The cost and regulatory hurdles associated with the use of animals affect even the choice of research topics, with resulting negative effects on human health.
Perhaps we can encourage people to once again trace the entire history of research projects, including the research animals involved, describing why the particular animal models used are necessary, and why certain research results are so totally dependent on the use of animals. Perhaps scientists who share their experiences could ...
