• Question: What do you think about experimenting on animals?

    Asked by Liam to John, Laura, Luke, Rob, Ruth on 16 Jun 2016.
    • Photo: John Fossey

      John Fossey answered on 16 Jun 2016:

      Good question, I really don’t like it but I know we really need it if we want to improve the health outcomes of others.
      I work on projects where our chemistry is sometimes tested first on cells and then on animals. We only every do this when we have found molecules that we think might help people and to progress towards using the molecules in people we must (due to government regulations) first test on animals.
      Personally I have never tested something on an animal myself but I work on projects where someone with thee correct training and only after thinking hard and securing ethical approval do we suggest this as a course of action.
      Take a look at at this webpage for more info about why experiments on animals are important and how scientists are working to reduce animal use http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/how/three-rs/

    • Photo: Luke Williams

      Luke Williams answered on 16 Jun 2016:

      I think that it is a needed part of medicine. There are some incredibly tough regulations about animal testing in this country, I believe the most stringent in the world.

      I have not done any animal testing myself, as my work is not related to anything that would require it.

    • Photo: Laura Finney

      Laura Finney answered on 16 Jun 2016:

      I think it is necessary for some medical work and medicine development for serious diseases as long as we try and do it in the most humane way. However, I do not agree with testing makeup and cosmetics on them at all and think it should be banned. It is not needed at all!

    • Photo: Ruth Patchett

      Ruth Patchett answered on 19 Jun 2016:

      I think unfortunately it is neccisary for some medical advances. I think we should only do it when we really have to and we should try to treat the animals well when we do it. But people would still be dying of common desieses if we did not do it. Also I hope other animals will benefit from it too in the treatments we can provide from them. I think it must be a hard jobs to test on animals and I am glad I don’t have to do it.
      I think it is not acceptable for unncessary experiments like for make-ups etc though!

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