The University of Otago's planned $50 million animal research centre has poured fresh fuel on the growing debate about animal welfare. BRUCE MUNRO asks what science do we still need animal testing for? He also explores whether we know enough to make an informed decision.
"We have a counter-proposal,'' says a voice on the other end of the phone.
"A major facility ... that produces better scientific results without the animals suffering. And if they are not willing to listen to that, then as activists we have various means of applying pressure.''
• For the greater good
• Shared concern for animal welfare
The voice belongs to Carl Scott, a member of the Dunedin Animal Rights Collective. The collective, along with the New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society (NZAVS), the Veganism and Animal Rights Society, the Student Animal Legal Defence Fund and Save Animals From Exploitation, is up in arms. The groups are incensed by the University of Otago's announcement last week that it will consolidate its animal research laboratories in a $50 million, 3936sq m purpose-built facility due to open in February, 2018.
The university, for its part, says the facility will provide the "highest standard of care''.
But as animal ethics researcher Dr Mike King points out (see story on facing page) it is not the case that either camp is unconcerned about animal welfare. The salient issue is how restricted the use of animals should be.
So, what science do we still need animal testing for?
Research animals are being used in numbers that might surprise members of the public.
Figures provided by the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) show that in 2014, the latest year for which data is available, 310,287 animals were used in research, testing and teaching. The most commonly reported species were cattle, mice, sheep and fish.
At the University of Otago over the past three years an average of 18,157 animals per year have been used. Of those, an average of 13,937 animals per year have died. The highest order animals used at the university during that period were sheep.
The university is keen to talk about benefits its research produces.
"Otago's animal-based research is subject to strict ethical oversight,'' Prof Richard Blaikie, who is deputy vice-chancellor of research and enterprise at the university, says.
"Research that is approved through this process aims to yield increased benefits, through greater understanding and advances in human and animal conditions in areas such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, reproduction, behavioural science, pest management and neuroscience.''
Prof Blaikie says many potentially life-enhancing questions can still only be answered by studies with animals.
"Alternatives to animal testing are used and university researchers are contributing to the development and validation of such alternatives,'' he says.
"The university uses cell, tissue and organ cultures in its research projects whenever possible, only employing animal models when absolutely necessary. Computer modelling is also used where appropriate, but is not yet advanced enough to answer many important and highly complex research questions.
"Ultimately, in many instances, there are currently no workable alternatives to animal-based research.''
He cites a number of examples.
Last year, in October, it was announced that researchers at the university had achieved an important breakthrough in understanding how the brain controls fertility. The study involved using state of the art optogenetic techniques to selectively activate kisspeptin neurons in a particular part of the brains of mice.
Other research in rodents is looking at mechanisms of brain cell recovery after a stroke. It is hoped that the study, led by Assoc Prof Ruth Empson and Dr Andrew Clarkson, will lead to better outcomes for stroke sufferers.
university's zebra fish facility is allowing researchers to study developmental disorders by experimenting, in most cases, on fish eggs. The fish are used for two reasons; they share many human biological traits and there is no available technology to make cells and tissues in culture develop like an embryo.
Grant Shackell is chairman of the NAEAC, which advises the Minister for Primary Industries on ethical and animal welfare issues.
Mr Shackell says alternatives to animal research are being developed worldwide.
"For example, some work overseas is being done to use 3-D printing to produce anatomically correct models of animals for teaching purposes,'' Mr Shackell says.
For any animal research that is approved, animal ethics committees have already considered whether a suitable alternative exists, he says.
Considering alternatives is part of the committees role in promoting the 3Rs: replacement of animals in research, testing and teaching; reduction of the number of the animals used; and refinement of procedures to minimise animal pain and suffering.
Dr Arnja Dale says the university's planned animal research centre does not seem to fit with the 3Rs.
Dr Dale is chief scientist for the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RNZSPCA).
"The new centre doesn't appear to mean there will be any reduction in the number of animals used, so they are not reducing, which is one of the three Rs,'' she says.
Representatives of RNZSPCA were hoping to talk face to face with Prof Blaikie late this week or early next week.
They would be urging Prof Blaikie to instead consider a different approach.
"The RNZSPCA strongly encourages the University of Otago to join alongside other universities around the world, and become the first in New Zealand, in developing a Center for Alternatives to Animal Use,'' Dr Dale says.
Examples of these alternative centres include John Hopkins University, and UC Davis, both in the United States, and Utrecht University, in the Netherlands.
Also promoting the same concept are the animal rights organisations Mr Scott says are planning a campaign to change the university's mind.
That campaign is being co-ordinated by Tara Jackson, who is the Christchurch-based campaign manager for NZAVS.
Miss Jackson rejects the notion that the animal research that will be happening at the centre is needed. She says decades of animal-based cancer and diabetes research has shown humans are too anatomically different from rats and mice for the results to be useful.
Last week, an online campaign to oppose the plan saw people sending about 2000 emails to Prof Blaikie calling on the university to move away from animal research.
Miss Jackson says that effort was suspended while they sought to meet with Prof Blaikie.
"We will wait to see how the meeting goes before we consider further action,'' she says.
Animal research costs and benefits
Statistics on animal research at Otago and in New Zealand:
• At the University of Otago, during the past three years, an average of 18,157 animals per year have been used in research, testing and teaching.
• Of those, an average of 13,937 animals per year have died.
• The most commonly used species were mice, rats and fish.
• The highest order animal used was sheep (a total of 256 during the past three years).
• Although 162 dogs were used, they were pets that took part in non-medical experiments and were returned to their owners at the end of the research. In New Zealand, in 2014, 310,287 animals were used in research, testing and teaching.
• The most commonly reported species were cattle (24.3%), mice (18.8%), sheep (14.4%) and fish (13.1%).
• More than 83% of animals were exposed to manipulations that had no or little impact on the animals' welfare.
• A total of 10,400 animals experienced manipulations of ‘‘high impact'' or ‘‘very high impact''.
Some of the dozens of medical advances in which animal research has played a role:
• 1790 Vaccine for smallpox developed (cow)
• 1919 Mechanisms of immunity discovered (guinea pig, horse, rabbit)
• 1920 Insulin (dog, rabbit)1945 Penicillin tested (mouse)
• 1956 Open heart surgery and cardiac pacemakers developed (dog)
• 1982 Treatment for leprosy developed (armadillo)
• 1995 Gene transfer for cystic fibrosis developed (mouse, non-human primate)
• 2001 Promising drug for prevention of Aids developed (monkey)
