An expert report by : DR Hadwen Trust / FRAME / St Andrew Animal Fund
Introduction
There have been many reports on the subject of experiments on non-human primates,
mirroring the level of concern about this issue. Why another report now?
An important feature missing from most previous publications
is a detailed analysis of the extent to which primate experiments
have already been replaced by advanced non-animal alternatives
such as cell and molecular methods, computer simulations and
ethical studies with human volunteers (see panel).
This report aims to fill that gap. It is important because
knowledge of these successes will foster a more widespread
sense that primate research can be replaced with valid
techniques that do not use laboratory animals. We selected five
areas of medical research into important human conditions –
malaria, cognition, stroke, AIDS and hepatitis C – which have
used significant numbers of primates over many years and yet
have had very limited success in translating to human benefit.
They illustrate where notable progress has been made in
replacing primate experiments with non-animal techniques, and
where greater progress is achievable.