The Foundation for Biomedical Research (FBR) is an American non profit organization, 501(c)(3), located in Washington, DC. Established in 1981, the organization is dedicated to informing the news media, teachers, and other groups about the need for lab animals in medical and scientific research. The organization argues that promoting animal research leads to improved human and veterinary health.[1]
Its founding president is Frankie Trull.
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Board of governors
Since October 2008, Dr. Hiram C. Polk Jr. has served as chairman of FBR's board of governors. Dr. Polk succeeds the late Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, who was FBR’s chairman for nearly 25 years.
About animal research
According to the Foundation for Biomedical Research, animal research has been responsible for every medical breakthrough over the past century, although this position has been disputed.[2][3][4][5] It cites animal research as leading to advances in antibiotics, blood transfusions, dialysis, organ transplantation, vaccinations, chemotherapy, bypass surgery, joint replacement, and methods for prevention, treatment, cure and control of disease, pain and suffering, although this too is controversial.[6]
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the total number of animals used in that country in 2005 was almost 1.2 million,[7] but this does not include rats and mice, which make up about 90% of research animals.[8][9] In the U.S., the numbers of rats and mice used is estimated at 20 million a year.[9] Other rodents commonly used are guinea pigs, hamsters, and gerbils. Mice are the most commonly used vertebrate species because of their size, low cost, ease of handling, and fast reproduction rate.[10] The Foundation advocates the highest quality of animal care and treatment, stating that the use of animals in research is a privilege, and that animals deserve our respect and the best possible care. Many alternatives exist to animal models in research, however animal researchers believe that there is no comprehensive substitute for animal models in research.
Activities
FBR conducts educational programs for the news media, teachers, students and parents, pet owners and other groups.
FBR publishes a subscriber-based daily news service called Total E-clips featuring biomedical research news, medical breakthroughs, political and legislative and activism news.
Since 1981, the FBR has monitored and analyzed the activities of animal rights organizations relating to researchers and institutions.
See also
Animal testing on rodents
Animal testing on rabbits
Draize test
References
- ^ "About FBR". http://www.fbresearch.org/AboutFBR/tabid/423/Default.aspx. Retrieved on 2009-06-24.
- ^ Ruesch, Hans (1989). 1000 Doctors (and many more) Against Vivisection. Civis/Civitas.
- ^ Animal Experimentation Issues PCRM
- ^ "The Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT)". http://caat.jhsph.edu/about/index.htm. Retrieved on 2009-06-24.
- ^ "Animals in Experimentation - Everybody Loses". http://petaliterature.com/VIV230.pdf. Retrieved on 2009-06-24.
- ^ Slate Arthur Allen (June 1, 2006). "Of Mice or Men The problems with animal testing". http://www.slate.com/id/2142814/. Retrieved on 2009-06-24.
- ^ 2005 Report on Enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act U.S. Department of Agriculture, Accessed 8 February 2008
- ^ The humane care and treatment of laboratory animals National Association of Biomedical Research, Accessed 8 February 2008
- ^ a b Frankie L. Trull and Barbara A. Rich (1999) "More Regulation of Rodents" Science, Volume 284. number 5419, page 1463. DOI 10.1126/science.284.5419.1463
- ^ Rosenthal N, Brown S. "The mouse ascending: perspectives for human-disease models," Nat. Cell Biol, Volume 9, issue 9, pp. 993-9, 2007. PMID 17762889
External links
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