A WELSH campaign group made an impact outside the Senedd on Thursday last week. Wales Against Animal Experiments, a grass-roots movement established last year, has launched a Senedd petition calling on the Welsh Government to scrutinise the use of funds allocated to medical research, ensuring they are directed towards human-relevant technologies. The group, a member of the recently formed Alliance for Cruelty Free Science, was in Cardiff as one of 50 public-facing events planned this autumn across the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
The campaigners say the purpose of the event was to draw attention to the petition and the role played by the Welsh Government in determining the future direction of medical research in Wales. Passers-by, attracted by the posters, placards and materials on display, were provided with information and leaflets on vivisection, and gifted cruelty free products.
In 2023, according to the latest Home Office statistics, just under 32,000 ‘scientific procedures’ were conducted on animals in Wales. Over half the procedures related to animals (mainly mice) bred and used to create genetically altered animals – the aim is for the offspring to be born with ready-made diseases or conditions such as epilepsy or cancer who would themselves become subjects of experimentation. Controversially, there was no legal requirement for animals to be used in any of the procedures in Wales, points out Pip Morris, spokesperson for the campaign group. Animal experiments are conducted in 4 Welsh universities (Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff and
Swansea). It is unclear whether they also take place in laboratories outside universities (such as charity or commercial labs) as since 2021 this data is no longer collected or published by the Home Office.
Public disquiet about the harms done to sentient animals in the name of science is increasing, and polls show that most people in Wales oppose animal testing and research, favouring alternative technologies. (South Wales Argus, April 2021) There is also a growing body of research documenting the failure in translating results from animal studies into treatments for humans in numerous disease areas. However, universities persist in training scientists in traditional research methods, perpetuating a flawed model that blocks rather than advances human medicine, according to Pip Morris. This model is facilitated by funding from industry, medical charities and the public purse while NAMs (new approach methodologies) attract very little financial support in comparison. In its 2023 inquiry report, the Senedd’s Cross Party Group on Medical Research urged the Welsh Government to incentivise medical research, increase its Quality Related funding to universities and attract more charity-funded medical research to Wales.
The campaign group points out that some of the highest charity funders in Wales – Cancer Research UK, Versus Arthritis and British Heart Foundation – conduct or pay for experiments on animals. The campaigners feel that expansion of the life sciences sector, without scrutiny of how the money is spent should be a cause of concern to the Welsh people, as public funded research is paid for primarily through taxation. The economic benefits promised by the cross party group in its inquiry report would be multiplied by investment in innovative science such as organ-on-a-chip, 3D bioprinting, and computer modelling. Many argue that it is these technologies, based on human biology, that can boost the economy, strengthen the NHS, and deliver for patients.
The Labour Government recently confirmed its manifesto pledge to ‘partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing’, with the promise of a roadmap to achieve this. The campaign group believe that Wales should follow this lead by scrutinising how its financial contribution is used and directing funds to human- relevant research methods.
Wales Against Animal Experiments is calling on the Welsh public at large to support its petition concerning the use of animals in science. As petitions with more than 10,000 signatures are considered for a debate in the Senedd, ‘it offers a unique opportunity to bring about a change in policy, marking a pivotal moment for medical research in Wales’.
To support the Senedd petition go to: https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/246343
For more information or to get involved, visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/walesagainstanimalexperiments
https://www.allianceforcrueltyfreescience.org/