Welcome to RDS Net
Antibiotics, anaesthetics, vaccines, insulin for diabetes, open heart surgery, kidney dialysis
and transplants, treatments for asthma, leukaemia and high blood pressure... these are
just some of the major medical advances that have depended on the use of animals in
medical research and testing.
The medical benefits of animal research are a good starting point for the public debate
about the use of animals in research and testing. RDS is the UK organisation which
represents doctors and scientists in this debate. The information in RDS Net is based on
very thorough research and understanding of the facts, historical and scientific.
In this debate there are many single issue pressure groups seeking to abolish animal
research completely and immediately. But it would be extremely difficult to develop new
medical treatments and cures without the use of animals. So animal research must continue
if we are to solve serious medical problems like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, AIDS, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, and malaria.
Not all medical research needs to use live animals - useful results are also obtained by
using computers, studying cells and tissues, and some studies that are done on patients and human populations. RDS Net puts the research processes in context, to explain when animals need to be used.
RDS believes that research using animals should be well regulated, conducted humanely
and only when there is no alternative. We work with welfare groups and government to
promote good practice in laboratory animal welfare and the development of non-animal
replacement methods.
There are many examples of the current and historical use of animals in research, and the resulting medical benefits, at
AnimalResearch.info
See also the RDS blog for news and comment. |
