#PRESSRELEASE

News from EARA

This page contains all the news outputs from EARA, including press releases and videos, EARA policy and news briefings, plus opinion pieces and significant media articles.

Other pages in this section explain more about EARA on social media and practical information for journalists.

Challenging misleading information about malaria research

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
2 min

Challenging misleading information about malaria research

Peta have today started promoting a petition to end malaria research using monkeys at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. The petition bases itself on three untruths about the important research with monkeys that is carried out at the Karolinska. Peta claim the following: The monkeys are infected with malaria FALSE: The monkeys are not infected with the malaria parasite: they are used in a pre-clinical study to test a new malaria vaccine. For that purpose, the scientists inj

Studying the Zika virus in rhesus macaques

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
7 min

Studying the Zika virus in rhesus macaques

The 2016 Olympic Games are due to begin in Rio de Janeiro this weekend. In the lead-up to this year’s Games, the Zika virus has never been far from the headlines. A number of top golfers and basketball players have decided to pull out and other athletes have also expressed their concerns, despite the risk to anyone who is not pregnant being minimal. As it is not currently mosquito season in Brazil, experts say the Olympics will not accelerate the spread of the virus. It is th

Hundreds of scientists sign letter supporting primates in neuroscience

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
3 min

Hundreds of scientists sign letter supporting primates in neuroscience

Over 400 primate and neuroscience researchers signed a letter supporting the use of non-human primates in neuroscience, which was published in the Guardian today. Coordinated by Understanding Animal Research (UAR), the letter emphasises the key role that primate research has played and continues to play in vital neuroscience research. EARA signed the letter alongside 20 other institutions, as well as reaching out to our networks in Europe to gain further support. The letter c

Transparency Agreement on Animal Research launched in Spain

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
2 min

Transparency Agreement on Animal Research launched in Spain

A Transparency Agreement on Animal Research in Spain was launched yesterday in Madrid. The Acuerdo de transparencia sobre el uso de animales en experimentación científica en España (lit. ‘Transparency agreement on the use of animals in scientific experimentation in Spain’), has been developed by Spain’s Confederation of Scientific Societies (COSCE) in collaboration with EARA. The Spanish document has been developed based on the UK Concordat on Openness on Animal Research. Sim

European scientific community welcomes EU review of the Directive for the protection of animals used

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
2 min

European scientific community welcomes EU review of the Directive for the protection of animals used

The European scientific community supports the view of the EU Commission, that the Directive on the protection of animals used in biomedical research is bringing significant benefits in animal welfare and a sound foundation for future best practice in the sector. The European Animal Research Association (EARA), which represents more than 60 organisations across Europe in the biomedical research sector, has welcomed the Commission report, published today. The report reviews th

EARA backs UK commitment to animal welfare

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
1 min

EARA backs UK commitment to animal welfare

The European Animal Research Association (EARA) has backed the UK government’s recent statements on its commitment to animal welfare. The UK Parliament recently voted not to carry over Article 13 of the Lisbon treaty into UK law as part of Brexit legislation – Article 13 states that ‘since animals are sentient beings, [countries must] pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals’. This was seen by opponents as an attempt to undermine current standards of animal welf

Belgian researchers respond to misinformation about animal testing in an open letter

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
1 min

Belgian researchers respond to misinformation about animal testing in an open letter

In response to recent misinformation about the use of animal experiments on the French-speaking television channel RTBF (9 November) in Belgium, a group of researchers from the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), University of Liège, Université de Mons (UMons) and the University of Namur (UNAMUR) have written an open letter. The letter underlines the need for animal testing in science and addresses the spread of factually incorrect inf

Neuroscientists hit back at MEPs statement

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
1 min

Neuroscientists hit back at MEPs statement

The Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) has responded to the recent European Parliament’s Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals statement on the use of animals in neuroscience, which claimed that, ‘Animal testing is inherently uncertain and is a misleading indicator for human trials’. In its own response statement FENS said: ‘The value of animal-based research for wide-reaching scientific and medical advances, including in neuroscience, cannot

EARA voices concerns to UK Parliament on implications of no-deal Brexit

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
1 min

EARA voices concerns to UK Parliament on implications of no-deal Brexit

EARA’s Brexit Taskforce has made a submission to the UK Parliament Health and Social Care Committee inquiry concerning the animal science used to develop human and veterinary medicines. Critical to the continuing success of the biomedical sector will be the timely and efficient import/export transport of purpose-bred research animals, biological samples and vaccines. The submission also offers concrete proposals for avoiding delays in the movement of animals and related mater

FENS Forum to discuss openness and communications on animal research

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
2 min

FENS Forum to discuss openness and communications on animal research

Details have been released on the session on animal research communications that will take place at this year’s FENS Forum of Neuroscience, in Berlin, 7-11 July. Featuring EARA Executive Director, Kirk Leech, the special interest event entitled Communicating Animal Research: Challenges and Opportunities, looks at how neuroscientists can counter opposition to their research work using animals from activist groups. The biomedical research sector has often been hesitant and defe

Bob Tolliday

Jan 8, 2019
1 min

EARA Brexit briefing published

EARA Brexit Taskforce Briefing on the potential implications for animal science in the UK and EU stemming from Brexit EARA has brought together a group of organisations under a Brexit Taskforce. The Taskforce is comprised of the following organisations – EARA, ABPI, AnimalHealth Europe, Charles River Laboratories, Covance, Ellegaard Göttingen Minipigs, Envigo, GSK, Marshall BIoResources, National Office of Animal Health, Understanding Animal Research and the Wellcome Sanger I

Top ten UK universities for animal research announced

Bob Tolliday

Nov 26, 2018
1 min

Top ten UK universities for animal research announced

A list of the ten UK universities that conduct the highest number of animal procedures has been published by Understanding Animal Research (UAR). The statistics have been gathered from figures found on the universities’ websites as part of their ongoing commitment to transparency and openness. The ten institutions collectively conducted over one third of all UK animal research in 2017 all have signed up to the Concordat on Openness on Animals Research. The top three in the li

Spanish animal 2017 statistics shows drop in procedures

Bob Tolliday

Nov 21, 2018
1 min

Spanish animal 2017 statistics shows drop in procedures

New figures released by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, show an overall decrease in the use of animals in biomedical research last year. According to the official government website (in Spanish), in 2017 there were a total of 802,976 procedures involving animals, which compares to 917,986 in 2016. Overall this reflects a significant drop, equivalent to one-eighth of the 2016 total number, including almost halving of the number of times fish were used

EU Directive ‘cannot be implemented in isolation’ Brussels roundtable agrees

Bob Tolliday

Nov 15, 2018
2 min

EU Directive ‘cannot be implemented in isolation’ Brussels roundtable agrees

At a roundtable discussion on the use of animals in scientific research there is overwhelming agreement that Europe has appropriate and detailed legislation regulating the use of animals in scientific research, that adapts to and encourages scientific progress. Conclusions also show that successful implementation of the Directive is a shared responsibility. The round table identified opportunities to join forces and work together, as the Directive 2010/63/EU cannot be success

Switzerland’s 2017 animal research statistics indicate fewer animals used

Bob Tolliday

Nov 15, 2018
1 min

Switzerland’s 2017 animal research statistics indicate fewer animals used

The latest figures released by the Swiss Federal Veterinary Office (BLV) show a decrease in the overall use of animals in biomedical research in the Switzerland’s public and private institutions. These statistics for 2017 are made available in compliance with Swiss law and demonstrate the continuing commitment of the Swiss biomedical sector to openness and transparency about animal research, combined with an ongoing commitment to replace, reduce and refine the use of animals

Belgian scientists hit back at ‘Nazi’ slur in one-sided media reporting

Bob Tolliday

Nov 15, 2018
3 min

Belgian scientists hit back at ‘Nazi’ slur in one-sided media reporting

Belgian researchers have countered an uncritical feature interview with animal rights activists who repeated factual inaccuracies about animal research and likened scientists to Nazis. In response to the pieces in De Morgen and Humo (both in Flemish) the scientists refuted the claims that animal experiments are unreliable, that computer simulations and artificial intelligence are fully-fledged alternatives, that scientists just “do what they want” and that animal experiments

Max Delbrück Center stands in support of important research study

Bob Tolliday

Nov 15, 2018
2 min

Max Delbrück Center stands in support of important research study

A world-renowned German biomedical research institution has responded strongly to criticism from an activist group that has targeted one of its researchers. Activist group Ärzte gegen Tierversuche (Doctors Against Animal Experiments) protested about the research of Prof. Gary Lewin and his team, at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, describing it as ‘absurd’. MDC has now hit back with Martin Lohse, CEO of MDC, explaining that while criticism is part

Brain Prize winner emphasises essential need for animal research into Alzheimer’s

Bob Tolliday

Nov 15, 2018
2 min

Brain Prize winner emphasises essential need for animal research into Alzheimer’s

Basic researchers into Alzheimer disease awarded major scientific prize Today it was announced that the 2018 Brain Prize will be awarded to Bart De Strooper (VIB, KU Leuven and University College London), Michel Goedert (University of Cambridge), Christian Haass (DZNE, Ludwig-Maximilians-University) and John Hardy (UCL) for their groundbreaking research on the genetic and molecular basis of Alzheimer’s disease. The four researchers will share the 1 million EUR prize awarded b

Scientists in Europe must take more responsibility for openness, says EARA executive director

Bob Tolliday

Nov 15, 2018
2 min

Scientists in Europe must take more responsibility for openness, says EARA executive director

Openness and transparency surrounding the use of animals in research is ‘still an Achilles Heel’ for the biomedical sector, a roundtable hosted by the Federation of European Academies of Medicine (FEAM) last week has heard. Speaking at the meeting, EARA Executive Director, Kirk Leech, said: “The zeitgeist is openness and transparency for the biomedical sector, but this is still an Achilles Heel for many European institutions.” The meeting in Brussels, brought together high-le

Supporting excellent biomedical science in Europe

Bob Tolliday

Nov 15, 2018
3 min

Supporting excellent biomedical science in Europe

The first FEAM European Biomedical Policy Forum annual lecture took place in Brussels, in March, dedicated to the topic Biomedical and health research: developing a vision for Europe. The Forum is an initiative from the Federation of European Academies of Medicine (FEAM) and aims to bring together representatives from academia, research charities, industry, European and national trade associations and professional bodies, regulators, public health bodies, and patient and cons