Comment response: Oxford University

Oxford University

Saturday, 29, Nov 2008 12:01

Wendy Higgins from the Dr Hadwen Trust recently published a response on this website to the completion of Oxford University's Biomedical Sciences building, a facility to re-house research animals that are currently housed in older buildings in a high standard of housing and care.

The University's press release on the building can be read in full at http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_releases_for_journalists/081111.html and further information, including scientific case studies, is available at http://www.ox.ac.uk/animal_research/.

To read the original comment piece click here.

Wendy Higgins' assertion that animal research is unnecessary is disputed by the overwhelming majority of scientists. The scientific consensus that some limited and strictly regulated animal research is still essential to medical progress is reflected in the published policies of numerous scientific bodies and medical research funders and charities, and does not need to be addressed here. However, there are some specific claims Ms Higgins makes about Oxford's facility that need addressing.

First, her suggestion that film footage taken inside the new building and existing primate housing was "restricted and controlled" is misleading. The BBC had access to the entire building as well as to an existing primate room and were able to film anything in the new building and the older room except entrances and security measures (for obvious reasons).

Second, her description of primates at Oxford, suggesting that monkeys which have undergone surgery would not "possess the motor skills to even reach out and hold on to [a] rope", is simply false. The primates filmed, when they do undergo surgery (under anaesthetic, as with human surgery) are up and about again within hours, and back with their group within a day.

Because the brain lesions are small and specific, the effects are not noticeable in normal behaviour, and must be measured through computer game testing (which the primates do voluntarily for food rewards and which involves no suffering). This carefully targeted research provides crucial information to help scientists to understand and eventually treat diseases like Alzheimer's, brain damage and schizophrenia.

Primates represent under half of one percent (0.5 per cent) of the animals used in Oxford research and are only used when no other species can deliver the research answer. Oxford's new Biomedical Sciences Building will house those primates (which are macaque monkeys) in improved conditions. More information can be found at http://www.ox.ac.uk/animal_research/.