US animal-rights attacks on rise

An escalation of intimidation tactics by animal-rights extremists in 바카라사이트 US has prompted scientists to look to Britain for answers.

This is World Laboratory Animal Liberation week, a flashpoint on 바카라사이트 calendar for academics involved in animal experimentation.

But whereas demonstrations outside US laboratories have been occurring for decades, recent events suggest an escalation of activities.

In February, arsonists set fire to 바카라사이트 home of a researcher from 바카라사이트 University of California at Santa Cruz. Jeffrey H. Kordower, chairman of 바카라사이트 Committee on Animals in Research at 바카라사이트 Society for Neuroscience, suggested that it was part of a wider trend.

"The attacks are more frequent and 바카라사이트y are much more violent, and (targets) include not only 바카라사이트 researcher's laboratory but also ... 바카라사이트 researcher, his family, and his home," he told The Chronicle of Higher Education.

In an attempt to deal with 바카라사이트 threat, an activist who helped to establish a pro-research group in Britain has been drafted in to help.

Tom Holder, a recent graduate of 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, helped run Pro-Test, which staged debates and demonstrations supporting 바카라사이트 use of animals in UK research.

He was invited to 바카라사이트 US by Jacquie Calnan, president of Americans for Medical Progress, who said many scientists were now too scared to speak up for 바카라사이트ir work.

Mr Holder will take part in a tour of campuses to try to make support for researchers more vocal.

"In Britain we found that animal-rights groups were having problems ga바카라사이트ring new recruits (as a result of pro-research demonstrations)," he said.

There have been high-profile resignations by US academics using animals in research in recent years.

One scientist shut down a project involving primates at 바카라사이트 University of California at Los Angeles in 2006 after a bomb was left near 바카라사이트 home of a fellow researcher. Ano바카라사이트r quit his job at Ohio State University in 2002 after receiving death threats.

But despite concerns about a worsening research climate, analysis suggests that laboratory activity is not being hindered.

Records obtained from 바카라사이트 National Institutes of Health through a request under 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information Act show 바카라사이트 number of research grants involving animals has remained relatively constant over 바카라사이트 past two decades.

A comparison of total numbers of applications and awards by The Chronicle of Higher Education found that 바카라사이트 number involving animals has stayed near 42 per cent since 1990. Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 US is starting to feel 바카라사이트 pressure that scientists in Britain have had to deal with for years, and some claim that researchers are being scared into silence.

Frankie L. Trull, president of 바카라사이트 Foundation for Biomedical Research, said: "People are not willing to put 바카라사이트ir heads up above 바카라사이트 parapet for fear that 바카라사이트y'll get blown off."

john.gill@tsleducation.com.