Alternatives
The Replacement of Animal Experiments
There is a huge range of non-animal research techniques that, as well as being a more humane approach to science, can also be cheaper, quicker and more effective. These include cell, tissue and organ culture; micro-organisms such as bacteria; molecular research; studies with post-mortem tissues; computer simulations, including QSARs; population studies (epidemiology) and clinical research with human volunteers.
European law clearly states that where a non-animal alternative is available, the animal-test equivalent must not be performed. Article 7.2 of EU Directive 86/609/EC (which deals with animal experimentation in the EU) states that; "An experiment [animal] shall not be performed if another scientifically satisfactory method of obtaining the result sought, not entailing the use of an animal, is reasonably and practically available." Article 23.1 also states that EU governments should promote non-animal alternatives; "The Commission and Member States should encourage research into the development and validation of alternative techniques, which could provide the same level of information as that obtained in experiments using animals but which involve fewer animals or which entail less painful procedures."
However, despite the protection laboratory animals are supposed to receive by law, the reality is often very different due to inadequate funding for alternatives development; lack of political will to make non-animal research a priority; the reluctance of animal researchers to find alternatives because they view animal tests as 'traditional'; the conservative approach of regulatory authorities that still insist on animal experiments; and the process of test method validation itself which can take many years (typically 9-11 years) before a non-animal method is accepted for use as a complete replacement to animal tests.
The European Coalition works to ensure that existing legislation and guidelines are revised to incorporate animal-free test methods to replace animal experiments, and that sufficient funding is made available for the further development of non-animal methods. Scientific documents prepared by the European Coalition as well as detailed communication with representatives of the Commission and Parliament, have already resulted in a better understanding of the advantages of non-animal testing strategies for the safety assessment of substances with regard to the protection of consumers and the environment.
Here are just a few examples on non-animal research techniques:
- Cell and tissue culture
- Cells from plants and humans are grown in the laboratory in a culture dish. Human cells and tissues can be gathered from biopsies, post-mortems, placentas or from surgical procedures. A whole range of cell cultures can be grown, such as human cancer and blood cells to investigate how viruses cause infection; human placenta cells to test whether drugs can pass through the placenta; or human joint cells to study anti-rheumatic drugs. Tissue and cell cultures can be highly sensitive to chemicals and enable researchers to study specifically targeted parts of the body. Cell cultures have been used in research into cancer, Parkinson's disease, AIDS, drug development, toxicity and Alzheimer's disease.
- Micro-organisms
- Humans share many features with microscopic organisms such as bacteria and yeast. Both humans and bacteria share the same genetic basis for life - DNA.
- Bacterial tests have been developed to detect genetic damage caused by chemicals or radiation, which are quick and cheap to perform. Bacteria can also be genetically manipulated to manufacture useful products previously obtained from animals, such as human insulin and monoclonal antibodies.
- Computer Models
- Sophisticated computers can be used to model the structure, actions and predict the toxicity of substances such as new pharmaceuticals or chemicals, and computer models of whole biological systems are also being developed. These computer models can be based on human data, and predict the action of a substance by using its molecular structure. One such computer modelling technique is QSAR (Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships).
- Computer Imaging
- Brain research is an area of science that uses many animals including rodents, cats and primates. However, human studies using non-invasive imaging techniques is easy to perform and can provide more reliable data. For example, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is an imaging technique that can map human brain activity using radioactively labelled glucose, which is administered to volunteers (the radioactivity is very low and, hence, not a health risk). This technique works on the principle that active brain cells use glucose, and that these cells can be identified by the radioactive label. The volunteer is asked to perform specific tasks, for example, memorising pictures/words, and the brain cells that are responsible for that particular activity are subsequently identified. This technology is also useful for studying neurological diseases and diagnosing brain tumours. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) techniques generate detailed anatomical images of the brain and other organs such as the heart, veins and arteries. Both techniques use radiowaves (which is not a dangerous form of radiation) to produce the images. MRI can be used to diagnose diseases of the brain and central nervous system. FMRI can be used, amongst other things, to measure blood supply to (and hence oxygen consumption by) the brain, as well as to detect which parts of the brain are responsible for specific functions and to view changes in detailed brain physiology over time.
- Epidemiology
- This is the study of people, or 'population studies'. Such studies uncover links between disease and features of lifestyle - such as diet, personal habits and occupation. Epidemiology is not a new technique, but one developed from observations of infectious diseases. The results of epidemiological surveys have been so useful that scientists can identify causes of illness with enough confidence to suggest preventative action. Often these findings are totally missed by animal research.
- For examples in the 1970s, Professor Richard Doll observed the incidence of lung cancer in smokers and non-smokers, and so discovered that this cancer is linked to tobacco. Animal experiments had previously failed to demonstrate this link. Other areas of human population studies that have had significant impacts on our health include the links discovered between bowel cancer and consumption of animal fat, and between UV radiation and skin cancer.
- Human volunteer studies
- This involves detailed research on healthy volunteers. For example, sensitive means of analysis can detect minute traces of pharmaceuticals in a person's blood and other bodily fluids. This gives doctors vital information about the way our bodies use and break down the drug of interest.
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