Given a minister the power to interfere with decisions taken by the local ethical committee would create a very dangerous precedent and open the door widely for further meddling by politicians in science.
M
Matthias H. J. Munk
12 years ago
The proposal of the Belgian government that a single person (which even a minister is!) can take a very fundamental decision in research, not even being qualified as a scientist, is antidemocratic and completely unfair with respect to the effort ethical commissions invest into such decisions. If the EU commission will pass this request, I and probably many other citizens of the EU and beyond will loose trust into a political system that we all try to support and many work hard for to ensure peace, justice and wealth for mankind. It will be a really bad sign!
D
Dr. Susan Cachel
12 years ago
Much of biomedical research is dependent upon the use of appropriate non-human animal models. Human neuological and cognitive research will falter without the use of non-human primate subjects.
A
Anonymous
12 years ago
I am signing in support of NHP in Belgium.
M
Marguerite E. Schall
12 years ago
I am signing in support of NHP research in Belgium.
D
Dr. Eric Bowman
12 years ago
While I am university lecturer, the views I express here are my own. I am concerned about singling out addiction research in animals. If one includes alcoholism and tobacco addiction, the number of lives lost worldwide to compulsive drug-taking approaches the daily mortality rate of of Word War II. Addicts are devalued and not represented well in government decision-making because people assume that drug-taking in addiction is simply a 'life choice'. This self-righteous attitude fails to recognize how vulnerable addicts are to drugs, and indeed it ignores decades of neuroscience research in both animals and people demonstrating that taking addictive drugs changes the structure and function of the brain. In effect, these studies have shown that addictive drugs 'rewire' brain circuits, and reduce the ability of the brain to make rational, healthy choices. Research on nonhuman primates is especially important for addiction research, for it allows us to study the effects of the drugs on the brain without adding the complexities of nutrition, economics, social experiences etc. that make such studies in humans difficult to interpret. In this regard, a good animal model does not attempt to reproduce *all* of the characteristics of a human medical condition, but it simplifies studying core aspects, such as brain function in the case of addiction.
S
Szczepan Baran
12 years ago
Research on laboratory animals such as NHP is absolutely necessary during pre-clinical trials.
J
Joan Burkholder
12 years ago
Without preliminary NHP research there are no assurances that medical breakthroughs will be viable on humans. And what about our pets? don't they need medical help too? Do you want to do early untried experiments on your children? Every living creature is subject to diseases and maladies, even NHP.
D
Dr Lynn Bindman
12 years ago
Animal research benefits animals via veterinary medicine as well as humans.
I am appalled at the idea of a Minister having a veto on Research Ethics committee decisions about non-human primate projects.
V
Vivien A. Casagrande
12 years ago
The ethical issue concerns preventing the development of good treatments for addiction in humans. Too much research indicates that other animal models may not be appropriate.
V
Vivien A. Casagrande
12 years ago
The ethical issue concerns preventing the development of good treatments for addiction in humans. Too much research indicates that other animal models may not be appropriate.
E
Eric Lacoste
12 years ago
Featured
Research on NHP (and lab animals in general) is absolutely necessary before starting clinical research. Will the society accept adverse events of new drugs entering phase I or II on volunteers? The volunteers will accept that?
D
Dr Beth Bicknese
12 years ago
Please continue to allownonhuman primate research. It is important to not do frivolous nonhuman primate research- but the option for nonhuman primate research should remain an option.
R
Richard Dyck
12 years ago
Research on non-human primates is essential.
S
Samantha Renaud
12 years ago
Research on Non-human primates is necessary and important
A
Anonymous
12 years ago
Research on Non-human primates is necessary and important
R
Richard T. Born
12 years ago
Please consider the value to society of this type of research.
D
Dajun Xing
12 years ago
Research on nonhuman primates is necessary and important. It is irreplaceable by rodent.
I am signing in support of NHP in Belgium.
Given a minister the power to interfere with decisions taken by the local ethical committee would create a very dangerous precedent and open the door widely for further meddling by politicians in science.
The proposal of the Belgian government that a single person (which even a minister is!) can take a very fundamental decision in research, not even being qualified as a scientist, is antidemocratic and completely unfair with respect to the effort ethical commissions invest into such decisions. If the EU commission will pass this request, I and probably many other citizens of the EU and beyond will loose trust into a political system that we all try to support and many work hard for to ensure peace, justice and wealth for mankind. It will be a really bad sign!
Much of biomedical research is dependent upon the use of appropriate non-human animal models. Human neuological and cognitive research will falter without the use of non-human primate subjects.
I am signing in support of NHP in Belgium.
I am signing in support of NHP research in Belgium.
While I am university lecturer, the views I express here are my own. I am concerned about singling out addiction research in animals. If one includes alcoholism and tobacco addiction, the number of lives lost worldwide to compulsive drug-taking approaches the daily mortality rate of of Word War II. Addicts are devalued and not represented well in government decision-making because people assume that drug-taking in addiction is simply a 'life choice'. This self-righteous attitude fails to recognize how vulnerable addicts are to drugs, and indeed it ignores decades of neuroscience research in both animals and people demonstrating that taking addictive drugs changes the structure and function of the brain. In effect, these studies have shown that addictive drugs 'rewire' brain circuits, and reduce the ability of the brain to make rational, healthy choices. Research on nonhuman primates is especially important for addiction research, for it allows us to study the effects of the drugs on the brain without adding the complexities of nutrition, economics, social experiences etc. that make such studies in humans difficult to interpret. In this regard, a good animal model does not attempt to reproduce *all* of the characteristics of a human medical condition, but it simplifies studying core aspects, such as brain function in the case of addiction.
Research on laboratory animals such as NHP is absolutely necessary during pre-clinical trials.
Without preliminary NHP research there are no assurances that medical breakthroughs will be viable on humans. And what about our pets? don't they need medical help too? Do you want to do early untried experiments on your children? Every living creature is subject to diseases and maladies, even NHP.
Animal research benefits animals via veterinary medicine as well as humans. I am appalled at the idea of a Minister having a veto on Research Ethics committee decisions about non-human primate projects.
The ethical issue concerns preventing the development of good treatments for addiction in humans. Too much research indicates that other animal models may not be appropriate.
The ethical issue concerns preventing the development of good treatments for addiction in humans. Too much research indicates that other animal models may not be appropriate.
Research on NHP (and lab animals in general) is absolutely necessary before starting clinical research. Will the society accept adverse events of new drugs entering phase I or II on volunteers? The volunteers will accept that?
Please continue to allownonhuman primate research. It is important to not do frivolous nonhuman primate research- but the option for nonhuman primate research should remain an option.
Research on non-human primates is essential.
Research on Non-human primates is necessary and important
Research on Non-human primates is necessary and important
Please consider the value to society of this type of research.
Research on nonhuman primates is necessary and important. It is irreplaceable by rodent.
There is no "none ethical pathology"