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Rat trap: why animal research is not just an animal welfare issue

On September 19th, Dr Pandora Pound gave a keynote lecture at the European Society for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EUSAAT) Congress in Linz, Austria, September 19th 2024. Drawing upon the arguments set out in Rat Trap, she talked about the limitations of animal research and the urgent need to transition to human-relevant methodologies in drug development and testing. And on October 15th she delivered an online webinar to a joint meeting of the Green Party’s Animal Rights Policy Working Group and Greens for Animal Protection, making the case that animal research is not just an animal welfare issue but has significant consequences for humans and for science.



Will Labour help us transition away from pre-clinical animal research? | The BMJ

We are delighted that the BMJ has published an Opinion article by our research director, Dr Pandora Pound and Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga, professor of evidence-based transition to animal-free innovations at Utrecht University.

You can read the article here: https://www.bmj.com/content/386/bmj.q1600.
The opening and closing paragraphs are below:

We must develop a funded, evidence based transition programme to enable a shift to safe and effective human biology based approaches in research

In February 2024, the Conservative government announced its intention to accelerate the development and uptake of technologies to reduce the use of animals in science, promising publication of a transition strategy this summer.1 Hopes are high that Labour will honour this commitment since, according to its manifesto, the party aim to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing.” In our view, a transition away from reliance on animals in research cannot happen soon enough; we believe that pre-clinical animal research is impeding medical progress, wasting resources, and resulting in enormous unmet need for patients.

The notion that animal research saves human lives has become part of our collective belief system. But this belief is not based on scientific evidence. The debate about animal research has traditionally been portrayed as an animal welfare issue, but we need to grasp that this is about human health too. This is a public health issue. Let’s hope the new government recognises this and acts accordingly.


A conversation with Dr Pandora Pound, author of ‘Rat Trap’, by Animal-Free Science Advocacy

https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/animalfreescienceadvocacy/episodes/2024-01-28T14_44_14-08_00
EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Dr Pandora Pound is Research Director at the Safer Medicines Trust. Dr Pound has written numerous influential papers on the scientific drawbacks of using animals as models for humans. Her newly published book ‘Rat Trap’ is a must-read.
www.troubador.co.uk/bookshop/computing-science-education/rat-trap

Many thanks to Rachel Smith and Animal-Free Science Advocacy for this great podcast.


2024 Lush Prize Shortlist

We at Safer Medicines Trust are absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for the wonderful Lush Prize in the Public Awareness Category for our book, Rat Trap!! Thank you so much to everyone who is reading and sharing it!













Cygnus Review

Many thanks to Cygnus magazine for this great review in their Autumn 2023 Issue 4:

You need to know that the subtitle of this book is The Capture of Medicine by Animal Research and How to Break Free, which is probably going to get you to pay attention. Written with pace and passion, this book reads almost like a thriller: “Learn how an experienced medical professional takes on the establishment with expert use of science and data and is criticised and pilloried only to fight on and bring change” sort of thing. The evidence she presents is pretty devastating and depressing, because it clearly shows that the experiments carried out in the name of our health are not fit for purpose and with the massive advances in modern research and technology, they are outdated. This is a powerful book and hopefully it will change some minds.


Glowing review of Rat Trap from Thomas Hartung, Professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, Professor Thomas Hartung, has written a detailed and thoroughly positive review of Rat Trap in the journal Altex (published October 17th 2023). He praises the book’s balance as well as its reliance on evidence, concluding, ‘Rat Trap is essential reading for funders, policymakers, scientists and ethicists seeking an unflinching empirical appraisal of animal research and constructive paths forward.’


A thousand roads to a world free of animal testing

Prof. Merel Ritskes-Hoitinga’s inaugural lecture at Utrecht University

In a moving and inspiring speech, Professor Ritskes-Hoitinga said: “The Netherlands is unique in the world with its national and Utrecht policies on Transition to Animal-Free Innovation. The whole world is watching us. I promise to do everything in my power to live up to our exemplary role from the Netherlands as much as possible.”

We are honoured to work alongside Merel and congratulate her on so many ground-breaking achievements. May her vision soon be realised.


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