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A 6 month public consultation was announced to gather opinions about a concordat on openness in animal research, signed in Octover 2012 by over 50 UK bioscience organisations.
Imran Khan, Chief Executive of the British Science Association, said:
“Scientists can only carry on using animals in medical research if the public consents to it. That in means we need openness – both in terms of being transparent about what research is being done and why, but also the willingness to have real conversations and debate about the need and concerns around animal research. This concordat is a great step on both fronts.”
Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust, said:
“Research using animals is vital to medical and scientific progress but there is a lot of misunderstanding about how and why animals are used in research. It is important for the scientific community to maintain public confidence and trust in the research it is carrying out, and this will only come about if we are open about the work that we do. The Concordat will demonstrate our commitment towards greater openness, while this consultation is our chance to get it right by listening to what people think ‘openness’ should look like.”
David Hall, Registrar and Secretary, University of Leicester, said:
“The University of Leicester was among the first institutions to sign the Concordat following a national award-winning campaign on openness in research using animals. This led to media visiting and filming in the animal research facilities and describing the medical benefits of the research. Leicester’s openness in the research campaign received national plaudits and was seen as an exemplar in the sector for describing how engaging with the media and public can assist in raising awareness and combating misinformation on this sensitive and controversial issue.”
Fiona Fox, Chief Executive, Science Media Centre, said:
“There has been a dramatic culture change in science over the past decade which means our very best scientists are happy to engage the media and public on all forms of scientific controversy from GM to nuclear to fracking and so on. The area of animal research has been a striking exception. The legacy of fear left by animal rights extremism of the 80’s and 90’s means that many researchers still prefer to keep quiet about this aspect of their work and journalists struggle to get access to animal labs. I very much hope this concordat marks the beginning of the end of this collective fear and the dawn of a new era of openness on this issue. There has never been any evidence of a link between speaking out and becoming the target of attack and the concordat allows for strength in numbers.
“I also hope it sends a message to those very senior people in science who have sometimes over-reacted to a small threat. I have been told by several Vice-Chancellors in my time that their universities will not speak about the use of animals because of small peaceful protests on campus. This would not be accepted as a reason to keep research on GM, or synthetic biology or climate science hidden from the public and media and should now be challenged as a reason to keep animal research a secret.”
Dr Kieran Breen, Director of Research and Innovation, Parkinson’s UK, said:
“We believe strongly in being open about animal research. This is part of a battery of tools which we are using to bring us closer to a cure for Parkinson’s. The Concordat will increase the openness and understanding among the public about the importance of using animals in research. Parkinson’s UK has played a key role in its development. We would encourage members of the public to take part in the consultation and help us shape the final Concordat so that it reflects the views of the general public.”
Dr Domenico Spina, Chair of the Animal Welfare & Integrative Pharmacology Sub-Committee at the British Pharmacological Society, said:
“Animal research is currently essential for breakthroughs to be made in pharmacology and novel drug discovery. The British Pharmacological Society funded a public survey that ran in parallel to the development of the Concordat, which further highlighted the ongoing need for the scientific community to communicate the day-to-day realities of animal research. The Society welcomes honest conversations about research involving animals, and is committed to supporting our members to accurately and openly report their experiences of working with animals.”
Stephen Whitehead, Chief Executive of the ABPI, said:
“The ABPI has been working with key stakeholders in the life sciences sector to improve communications to the public on animal research, and we are delighted that the draft Concordat on the openness on the use of animals in research in the UK is now going out for public consultation. This represents a historic change in how the life sciences sector communicates with the public.
“Research using animals plays a small but essential role in medical, veterinary and scientific progress, and is helping us to better understand and improve the treatment of diseases in humans and animals. It is vitally important that the public have accurate and up-to-date information about what animal research involves, the role it plays in the overall process of scientific discovery and treatment development, and what researchers and animal care staff do to try to reduce animal usage and minimise harm to the animals. We await with interest the results of the consultation and look forward to reviewing them.”
Draft Concordat on openness on the use of animals in research in the UK available online at http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/policy/concordat-on-openness-on-animal-research/concordat-public-consultation/.