Testing on Apes 'might be needed'

[Guest guest]

Ministers should not rule out the possibility of allowing apes to be

used in experiments, the head of the UK's Medical Research Council

has said.

In 1997, the government said it would never approve ape research

because they were too similar to humans, but there is no law

prohibiting the practice.

 

Professor Colin Blakemore said such research was " essential " if it

was the only way to cure a particular disease.

 

Animal welfare groups want a ban on all primate testing in Britain.

 

Professor Blakemore's comments came as campaigners for and against

animal testing staged two separate protests in the row over Oxford

University's new £20m animal research laboratory.

 

Supporters of animal testing were holding a rally in Oxford, while

anti-vivisection campaigners were demonstrating in Moreton-in-Marsh,

Gloucestershire.

 

Currently 2,800 non-human primates are used in medical research, but

the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences are assessing

whether genetically modified rats and mice could be used instead.

 

In reality, most people do not know - and do not want to know - the

grim reality of what happens to non-human primates in laboratories

 

Jane Goodall animal researcher

 

 

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Animal lab groups protest

A group of leading scientists has defended the use of primates in a

booklet - Primates in Medical Research - which was published jointly

by the MRC and the Wellcome Trust.

 

Professor Blakemore told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was " not

surprising " that many people were against research, as they were

constantly told it was " unbelievably cruel " and " achieved nothing " .

 

He added: " What we have seen in the last few years, against a

background of ridiculous extremism, is more willingness to discuss

openly when and where some animal research is necessary.

 

" The public have listened. They don't like the idea. Who does? But

they have realised that it is essential. "

 

Final test

 

He said the final test for any drug or treatment had to be on humans,

but added that 60% of potential drugs were rejected at the animal

testing stage.

 

These experiments are investigating diseases and conditions such as

Parkinson's, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, HIV and

strokes.

 

However, the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (Buav) is

publishing a report, due out on Monday, which calls for a ban on

testing on any non-human primates.

 

The publication has been backed by the world famous primatologist

Jane Goodall, who described the testing as " unethical " .

 

[Primates] are the only appropriate model for research into such

conditions as cognition

 

Professor Colin Blakemore

Blakemore interview

 

She said: " In reality, most people do not know - and do not want to

know - the grim reality of what happens to non-human primates in

laboratories.

 

" Not only are many experiments on them unethical, many are

unnecessary; and their results may be misleading because they were

developed at a time when scientists knew little about the effect of

stress on the immune system. "

 

Professor Sandy Thomas, director of the Nuffield Council on

Bioethics, said: " It is important to be aware that research involving

the great apes, such as gorillas, chimpanzees and orangutans, is not

prohibited directly by law.

 

" However, licences for this type of research are not granted as a

matter of current Home Office policy.

 

" The emergence of new diseases may mean that a reassessment of this

policy is required in the future. On the other hand, the continued

development of non-animal methods for research may mean that

alternatives could be available, " said Professor Thomas.

 

" It is important that the necessity, usefulness and relevance of

specific types of animal research are ascertained in each individual

case. "