Researchers unite to open up about animal research

Imperial signs up for greater openness on animal research following signs of a decrease in public support for animal research.

Results of a Government commissioned Ipsos Mori poll reveal a ten percentage point decrease in public support for scientific research involving animals since 2010.

Although levels of support remain high overall with 66 per cent of people supporting animal experimentation for medical research, 40 per cent wanted to know more before they form a firm opinion.The ‘declaration on openness on animal research’ agreeing to a more transparent approach was signed by more than 40 influential research organisations, including 15 universities.

In response to the findings, medical charities, research funders, the pharmaceutical industry and universities, including Imperial College London, have signed a declaration uniting them with the common aim of being more open about research using animals.

Professor Maggie Dallman, Principal of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Imperial said: “Animal research is a small but vital part of scientific and medical research in the UK. Terrorist activity by animal extremists in the past has led some scientists to fear what will happen to them if they speak publicly about their work.

“The results of the Ipsos Mori poll suggest that we need greater openness about why such research is important and what it involves. I hope that this declaration will give organisations and individual scientists the confidence to speak out with the support of the wider research community.”

The ‘declaration on openness on animal research’ agreeing to a more transparent approach was signed by more than 40 influential research organisations, including 15 universities.

One signatory is the Association of Medical Research Charities, an organisation that represents 124 charities in the UK including Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation with a combined £1 billion contribution to medical research. Chief Executive Sharmila Nebhrajani said: “Today’s poll shows that the majority of the public remain supportive of medical research involving animals where there is no other alternative and where the results of that research may lead in time to therapies or cures for serious disease – but it is clear the research sector has more to do.

“The [declaration] offers a real opportunity for the bioscience community to discuss medical research involving animals more openly and constructively with the public. And of course each of us may at some time be a patient who stands to gain from this research – so it is crucial we can build the confidence of the public in this important wor

The Ipsos Mori poll is a regular survey of public attitudes towards research involving animals commissioned by theDepartment for Business, Innovation and Skills. This year 66 per cent of those surveyed agreed with the statement ‘I can accept animal experimentation as long as it is for medical research purposes’. In 2010, this figure was 76 per cent. The poll also showed that 64 per cent of people do not feel well-informed about science.

Professor Dallman added: “Thanks to public scrutiny, the UK has some of the highest welfare standards in animal research in the world. Public trust has always been vital for research in the UK and I hope this agreement will help in maintaining that trust.”