Researchers of the DPZ explain animal experiments

He still remembers vividly how he looked at photos of animal experiments in a magazine as a child thinking "how can one do such things?", stem cell biologist Rüdiger Behr writes in his article in "BioFokus spezial". Today he himself relies in his research at times on animal experiments with non-human primates, he continues. It is this personal approach to discussing animal experiments, which was an important point for the magazine's editors to produce the current issue.

There are other perspectives offered, too: detailed descriptions of research on neuroprostheses for humans and explanations, why this kind of research relies on data obtained by experiments with monkeys by Hans Scherberger for instance. Scherberger is head of the Neurobiology Laboratory at the German Primate Center. The magazine also features a general overview of the most important general arguments why biomedical research is still depending on animal experiments. It is written by Stefan Treue, director of the German Primate Center, and Gerhard Heldmaier, animal physiologist and head of the German Research Foundation's senate commission on animal experimental research. This article is on point and informing, but it may sometimes be the more personal view of a scientist describing the ethical considerations he had to go through to be convinced of the necessity of his work with animals and the fact that these scientists care about the wellbeing of their animals. Why scientists like Rüdiger Behr realize their work is indispensable is definitely an enlightening read.

The English-language magazine is available for free from the society "Research for Life" and can also be downloaded here as a pdf document. Research for Life is closely linked to the Basel Declaration Society, which promotes accurate and open communication about animal research in science and to this aim has brought forward the Basel Declaration, wherein more than 3500 signees declare their obligation to treat their animals responsibly and to communicate openly about their work with the animals and why it is indispensable.