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The search for new medicines continues. This research is subject to a multitude of strict legal requirements on testing methods, safety and reporting procedures. Unfortunately, the need to understand the biological processes and legislation also require that some studies with animals in order to ensure reliable results. Research involving animals ranges from observing animal behaviours in laboratory environment to more invasive techniques such as taking blood samples repeatedly. Although this is a small component of medicines development, researchers are constantly looking for alternatives. There are many diseases and conditions that remain untreated. Despite advances in alternative methods such as the use of single, isolated cells, researchers cannot study the development of diseases or physiological processes in full without testing methods involving animals. These studies offer hope to million of people who suffer from often life-threatening and debilitating diseases like cancer , Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, sickle cell disease, stroke, spinal cord damage and tropical diseases like malaria. The list of diseases needing more effective treatments also includes cystic fibrosis, dengue haemorrhagic fever, type 2 diabetes, AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and stroke. Further progress also depends on crucial studies into immunology and neuro-degenerative diseases, dependency, and reproductive biology and endocrinology - in which animals play a vital role. |
