![]() ![]() Applied research can also be preclinical (e.g., molecular biology, cell culture, animal models) or clinical (e.g., human drug or vaccine efficacy trials). The estimates themselves are arguable, yet the underlying conclusions remain valid.Īnimal experiments are of two types: basic (e.g., investigation of biological phenomena and animal models) and applied (e.g., drug research and development (R&D), and toxicity and safety testing). Even though exact monetary and animal use data are unobtainable, in this chapter I use the best available, if imprecise, estimates. However, estimated us tax dollars wasted on animal use in biomedical and agricultural research range, conservatively, from us$5 billion to us$9 billion per year. Precise animal research investments and attendant waste are impossible to ascertain, in part because the research community and the us government obfuscate financial and animal use data. Nevertheless, the questionable benefit-cost ratio and the unquestionable negative repercussions of animal research are enormous for taxpayers, patients, and the public at large. There is no doubt that biomedical and agricultural animal research have delivered societal dividends. Losers in this system are the conscripted animals (for “labor”) and taxpayers (for “capital”).Īnimal research squanders precious public and private monies directly, indirectly, by opportunity cost, and by unintended negative consequences. The status quo animal research environment provides “ecosystem services” to a large number of inter-dependent “species”, including governments, academia, biotechnology, agri-food and pharmaceutical industries, and publishers. Each year at least 115 million experimental animals (mostly mice and likely a significant underestimate) are used worldwide ( Akhtar, 2015). In the United States ( us) and presumably elsewhere, about half of these funds support animal research and testing ( Institute of Medicine and National Research Council, 2012). Animal research is a large component of the international us$270 billion government-subsidized, biomedical industrial ecosystem ( Chakma et al., 2014). charles darwin, 1879īiomedical and agricultural animal research uses millions of experimental animals and dozens of animal species each year by choice, precedent, or regulatory mandate in basic and applied life science research and toxicity testing of drugs, chemicals, and consumer products. To kill an error is as good a service as, and sometimes even better than, the establishing of a new truth or fact.
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