The Humane Society of the United States announced during the
Fourth World Congress on Alternatives in New Orleans that it
was calling for an official ban on the use of nonhuman apes in
biomedical research in the United States. The HSUS also awarded
the 2002 Russell and Burch Award to Dr. David Morton for his
contributions to the advancement of alternative methods.
Those were among the highlights of The HSUS's involvement
the triennial conference, officially called The Fourth World
Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences.
Largely coordinated by The HSUS, the 2002 conference drew 500
representatives from the international scientific research,
academic, industrial and animal-protection communities who
exchanged information and views on the progress of alternative
techniques, testing, and education that seek to replace, reduce
and refine animal use.
Four HSUS representatives gave presentations on a myriad of
issues, including an update and overview of The HSUS's Pain and
Distress Initiative; attitudes of biology teachers regarding
dissection and alternatives; a demographic analysis of primate
research in the U.S., and the history of The HSUS's work
promoting alternative methods.
But The HSUS's real flashpoint came on Monday, August 12,
when Kathleen Conlee, program officer for animal research
issues, announced that The HSUS was calling for a ban on the
use of nonhuman apes in U.S. biomedical research. The ban would
cover not only chimpanzees, which are the only apes presently
used in biomedical research, but also bonobos, gorillas,
orangutans, gibbons, and siamangs. The HSUS wants to ensure
these species will not be used in the future.
"Apes have many qualities that contribute to the ethical
argument against their use in research," reads The HSUS's
Statement on Ending Biomedical Research on Nonhuman Apes. "For
example, apes possess complex mental abilities, including
self-conception, anticipation of future events, mathematical
skills, tool use and acquisition of artificial languages
created by humans. They also experience a range of emotions,
including depression, anxiety, pain, distress, and
empathy."
"Despite the striking similarities of chimpanzee and human
mental abilities, these two species are different enough
biologically that extrapolation of chimpanzee results to humans
is problematic," the statement continues. "The United States
often claims to be a leader in biomedical research, but we lag
behind Europe and others in regards to research animal care,
welfare and ethics. The majority of the world has decided that
the cost of using apes in research far outweighs the
benefits—it is time for the U.S. to come to that realization
also."
A day earlier, on Sunday, August 11, The HSUS held two
satellite meetings. In one, approximately 45 representatives of
animal-protection organizations around the world addressed
various issues associated with biomedical research and
testing.
The other meeting was an immunology workshop to discuss the
minimization of animal pain and distress in the production of
antibodies. Dr. Coenraad Hendriksen from the National Institute
of Public Health and Environmental Protection in The
Netherlands chaired the workshop, which included ten experts
from several nations. "We held this workshop in order to
develop expert recommendations on minimizing animal pain and
distress in this area of immunological research, so that we can
share these promptly with the research community," said Dr.
Andrew Rowan, HSUS chief of staff and senior vice president for
research, education and international issues.
During a banquet on Wednesday, August 14, Dr. Rowan and Paul
G. Irwin, HSUS president and CEO, bestowed the 2002 Russell and
Burch Award upon Dr. David Morton, a professor and head of the
Department of Biomedical Science and Biomedical Ethics at the
University of Birmingham in England. Dr. Morton also serves as
the director of the university's Unit of Biomedical Services,
which provides laboratory animal management services. Through
his research, writings, and participation in alternatives
conferences and other professional activities, Dr. Morton has
been one of the world's leading figures in the field of
refinement of animal-based methods since the 1980s.
When not making presentations themselves, HSUS scientists
and staff took advantage of the many plenary lectures, parallel
sessions, point-counterpoint sessions, and workshops at the
five-day conference. Among the highlights were Charles DeLisi's
plenary lecture, "Biological Universality: How an Understanding
of Human Biology Is Developed by In Vitro and In Silico
Experiments," a parallel session on "Ethical Issues in Primate
Research," a workshop on "Transgenic Animal Issues," and the
point-counterpoint session, "Is Animal Research Necessary in
the 21st Century?"
Participants will meet again in three years. The Fifth World
Congress on Alternatives will be held in August 2005 in Berlin,
Germany.
