• Question: Does your work harm animals?

    Asked by anon-361218 on 24 Mar 2023.
    • Photo: Courtney Povey

      Courtney Povey answered on 24 Mar 2023:

      My work only uses human volunteers so no animals are involved

    • Photo: Jacob Wildfire

      Jacob Wildfire answered on 24 Mar 2023:

      At the moment I work exclusively with bacteria, so thankfully not. However, last year I visited a lab that use mice to explore how immune cells protect the body against Tuberculosis.

      It was a conundrum. On the one hand, I believe the research they’re doing is essential to create effective vaccines and save lives. On the other, it means the mice must be experimented on. As a vegetarian, it was definitely confusing for me!

      I think ultimately, I think the research should happen – TB is causing so many deaths globally. However, researchers have an obligation to do as little harm as possible, and must respect the animals they work with.

    • Photo: John Clark-Corrigall

      John Clark-Corrigall answered on 24 Mar 2023:

      Currently my work is just on bacteria themselves, but if the research develops further we may use mouse models or alternatively organoids, which are effectively mini organs grown from somoeone’s cells that mimic the real thing. They’re very cool, they have all the same cells as the actual organ but more simple.
      Sometimes, animal models have to be used and until there’s a better, reliable replacement that will continue. There’s a lot of rules for working with animals so they’re looked after properly and respected like Jacob has said.

    • Photo: Benjamin Foster

      Benjamin Foster answered on 24 Mar 2023:

      Nope, I’ve not used animals in research. Those that do have very strict protocols and rules for using them.

    • Photo: Nazakat Merchant

      Nazakat Merchant answered on 24 Mar 2023:

      Work with humans only!. Although a lot of my work is based on evidence coming from animals which is vital to save lives.

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