This sucks... Cambridge Lab

[Guest guest]

I got sent this, below...

 

<3

Shari Black Velvet

 

Primate experiment lab approved

 

The work will be done on marmosets and macaques

Cambridge University has received UK Government approval for a

controversial laboratory in which it intends to carry out brain experiments

on monkeys.

The lab, based at 307 Huntingdon Road, will search for new treatments

and cures for neurological disorders.

 

The lab has been criticised by animal rights groups who say the work

is cruel

 

The centre is controversial because the prime minister spoke out at an

earlier planning stage, arguing the lab would do work that was nationally

important.

 

" We are pleased that this important research centre has been given the

go-ahead, " Professor Tony Minson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, of Cambridge

University, said.

 

" It is reassuring that the government is sending this unequivocal

message of support for neuroscience in the UK. "

 

'Dubious' science

 

Local planners had previously thrown out the university's request to

build the lab. They feared the policing costs and disturbance that would

accompany the expected animal rights protests might be more than city

residents could bear.

 

But after the direct intervention of Tony Blair and his chief

scientific adviser, Sir David King, in support of the planning application,

the issue was called into Whitehall for a final decision.

 

Neuroscientists argue that experimenting on monkeys - close relatives

of humans - is the only way to progress research towards new understanding

and medicines that will combat the diseases that afflict a " greying

population " .

 

They point to successful treatments for Parkinson's and new

brain-imaging technology that they claim could only have been achieved by

studying primate biology.

 

But animal rights groups say the science is flawed because the monkey

and human brains differ in vital respects, making many experiments

worthless.

 

They also question the university's record on animal welfare, arguing

recent undercover work has revealed poor practice in the university's other

labs.

 

Street protest

 

Wendy Higgins, from the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection

(Buav), said the decision was no surprise, coming " just at the time that

Cambridge University itself is throwing doubt over the project due to rising

costs.

 

" This means the government has kept its bargain to back up the

vivisection industry by granting approval in the full knowledge that the

final decision is now left to the university. "

 

The Buav predicted that if the project went ahead, it would be

blighted at every step by animal rights protests.

 

" With such a display of arrogant disregard for public opinion, is it

any wonder than an increasing number of citizens feel their only option is

to abandon the political process and take to the streets instead? " Higgin

said.

 

The university admits it is now facing a multimillion pound shortfall

in funding for the centre - further costs have had to be factored in because

of new animal welfare regulations and the need for extra security.

 

This has led to wide speculation in campaign groups that Cambridge,

now that it has its " victory " , will withdraw its application, with the

government moving all primate research to its military research centre at

Porton Down.

 

" Cambridge is looking for a way out, " said Andrew Tyler, the director

of Animal Aid. " If they take in to Porton Down it will compound the fact

that this grotesque and pointless research by making it secret and

inaccessible as well. Wherever it goes, we will fight it. "

 

'Crucial role'

 

Primates represent a very small part of the animal experimentation

programme in Britain. The vast majority of procedures are done on rodents.

 

Less than 3,500 experiments are carried out on, mostly, marmosets and

macaques, and very few of these will involve a highly invasive practice such

as cutting into the brain.

 

Professor Chris Higgins, director of the Medical Research Council's

Clinical Services Centre, said: " Our work on basic brain function couldn't

be applied to human disease without some sort of research being done on

animals - and in some cases, these animals have to be primates.

 

" The human brain is clearly more complex than a mouse's, so problems

such as memory degeneration have to be studied in the brain of an animal

that has the same level of memory functions as a human being. "

 

The decision was also welcomed by the Parkinson's Disease Society.

 

" Improved treatment and the search for a cure depend crucially on a

better understanding of the processes of the disease, " a spokesperson said.

 

" In the last few decades thousands of people with Parkinson's have

benefited from new therapies, such as L-Dopa, which would not have been

developed but for the insights gained from research involving animals. "

[Guest guest]

A sad day Shari.

 

Jo

 

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