Animal Experimentation

This Pew Research Center study concludes that the majority of people in the U.S. believe that science has a positive effect on society and that it has made life easier. However, there are significant perception gaps between the public and scientists, including support for animal testing among nearly all scientists and only about half of the U.S. public.

This book is a compilation that contains 20 contributions addressing alternatives to animal testing that were presented at the international symposium by the Swiss Institute for Alternatives to Animal Testing.

This report summarizes results from Wave 2 of the Animal Tracker annual survey of U.S. adults regarding attitudes and behavior toward animals. The first survey (Wave 1, 2008) included sixteen questions; the Wave 2 survey repeated six questions from Wave 1. In summary, the most recent survey continues to show strong support for the protection of all animals, although in some instances that support decreased slightly compared with the Wave 1 results.

The NC3Rs has conducted a survey of personal and project license holders working under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The aim was to find the level of understanding and support for the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement) and barriers to implementation. [Excerpted from website]

This publication provides a detailed analysis of the extent to which experiments on primates have been replaced by advanced non-animal alternatives. The report includes five case studies that demonstrate the need and potential for replacing non-human primates in medical research.

This article from the journal Public Affairs Quarterly discusses human disease and the use of nonhuman models to address those diseases as well as the historical role and current utility of vivisection, including issues such as drug testing, cancer, AIDS, and animal rights.

This article summarizes the results of a 1987 study that measured the effects of having animals (gerbils, rabbits, mice, terrariums) in the classroom on high school students' knowledge of and attitudes toward biology. Although students in classrooms with living plants and animals reportedly performed better than other students, these results are inconclusive based on study omissions.

This research describes the role of chimpanzees in AIDS vaccine research, starting in the early 1990s, and argues that a return to vaccine development using these animals is scientifically unjustifiable based on a comparison of AIDS vaccine trials in chimpanzees and humans.

This study of Turkish veterinary students and educators found that both groups face a dilemma regarding issues surrounding animal experimentation, including the accuracy and moral implications of using alternatives. The authors conclude that the academic curriculum should be supported with related courses to eliminate the negative results of that dilemma.

AboutAnimalTesting was developed "offer a unique reference point on informed discussion on animal welfare in animal testing." The site includes a collection of articles written by "professional journalists and experts" with specific knowledge of animal testing and a focus on animal welfare.