Background

Whether scientific research on monkeys is justified is a hotly contested question – which is again in the headlines, as MEPs consider calls for a phasing out of the use of monkeys in research, under revisions to EU law. Each year in British laboratories around 3,000 monkeys are used in scientific research and testing. These have to be licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act because they have the potential to cause the monkeys pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm. These 3,000 monkeys are around 0.1% of the total annual use of laboratory animals in Britain.

Two species of monkeys are used: macaques and marmosets:

• Macaque: 3092 used in 2008

• Marmoset: 262 used in 2008

Monkeys, like humans and great apes (such as chimpanzees and orang-utans), are members of the biological group known as primates. Great apes have not been used in biomedical research in the UK for at least 25 years; and the Government formally banned their use in 1997. Modern methods of housing and care of monkeys in the laboratory aim to meet the animals' behavioural and psychological needs. In best practice they are housed in groups with plenty of environmental enrichment, space to play and exercise, opportunities for all normal social interactions and foraging.


A Scientist's Question: Do you agree that my research justified the use of monkeys?

"I am a surgeon and also a scientist, and part of my work has involved inducing Parkinson’s disease in monkeys. My research showed that an area in the brain never previously associated with Parkinson’s was overactive, and that operating on it to reduce its activity very significantly reduces the symptoms of Parkinson’s. To date around 40,000 people have been helped, following further international research using about 100 monkeys.

My question is, do you agree with me that the benefits of my work justify the use of monkeys? Would it have made a difference if many more, or many fewer, monkeys had been used?

My research led directly to a new treatment. How would you feel if the outcome had been a gain in knowledge about how the brain works, without a direct link to a human disease or treatment?"


A Meat-Eater's Question: Am I a hypocrite if I worry about experiments on monkeys but eat meat?

"I am worried by the use of animals, including monkeys, in experiments. But I am not a vegetarian and don’t feel the same concern about eating meat.

I am not alone in this: around 5% of the UK population say that they are wholly or partly vegetarian1, whereas more than half say that they are ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ worried by the use of animals in research that aims to cure diseases.

Why do I feel this unease – especially since, for every animal used in research and testing in the UK, at least 700 are killed and eaten as meat?

For me, a big part of it is the possibility that laboratory animals might suffer more than farm animals. How do you feel about this?"


A Medicine Trial Participant's Question: How reliable is research using monkeys – would I trust my health/life on it?

"I am thinking of volunteering for a ‘Phase 1’ trial of a new medicine to treat cancer. A Phase 1 trial is the first time that a new medicine is tried in humans, and usually involves a few healthy volunteers.

The medicine has been tested in test-tube and animal experiments. These include tests in monkeys, which are the only animals with chemical ‘receptor’ sites for the medicine that are similar enough to humans for the medicine to work. These tests have revealed only minor side effects.

My question is, can I trust the monkey experiments enough? I am reassured that the medicine has been tested in animals, but I also remember media stories about people suffering unexpected, and very serious, side effects in a recent trial. Do you think I should volunteer?"


Response to the First Edition?

You might like to know what the people who tried out the first edition thought. Their top three arguments taking Support and Challenge together were A6, C3 and C4.

The initial text for this version of Open Up! was developed by Jane Smith, Secretary of the Boyd Group. The Boyd Group is a forum that brings together a wide range of perspectives on animal experiments. Jane was working in a personal capacity.

The text was amended – and reduced – in several rounds of testing, using feedback from both topic experts and general readers’.

It’s new and it’s work in progress, so we’d appreciate any comments. Send them to: Perry.Walker@neweconomics.org or contact him on 0207 820 6360

Where next? We haven’t space here, but if you want some sources of information to explore further, links will be available in future on our website at www.neweconomics.org/amap.

You can view the map in its paper form here:

OpenUp-ScienceResearchMonkeys.pdf