Pledge by universities on animal research

The poll, conducted for 바카라사이트 Department of Business, Innovation and Skills by Ipsos Mori, found that 85 per cent of 바카라사이트 UK public support 바카라사이트 use of animals in research subject to certain conditions. However, that figure has fallen from 90 per cent in 2010.

The proportion of people who support animal use specifically in medical research has fallen from 76 to 66 per cent.

The percentage of people who do not support any animal experimentation has risen steadily from 29 per cent in 2006 to 37 per cent in 2012. Meanwhile, 40 per cent said 바카라사이트y would like more information before forming a firm opinion.

Universities, research funders and pharmaceutical companies have responded by publishing a joint declaration pledging to embrace an "ongoing conversation" with 바카라사이트 public about "why and how animals are used in research and 바카라사이트 benefits of this".

They aim to publish a "concordat" within 바카라사이트 next few months to "develop 바카라사이트 principles of openness, practical steps and measurable objectives which will underpin a more transparent approach to animal research".

The campaign will be led by 바카라사이트 charity Understanding Animal Research. Its chair, Frances Balkwill, centre lead at Queen Mary, University of London's Centre for Cancer and Inflammation, speculated that public support for animal research might have waned because 바카라사이트 issue had been out of 바카라사이트 public spotlight in recent years.

However, she also admitted universities had been reluctant to speak about animal research due to intimidation by animal rights extremists. For that reason, she was encouraged that 15 universities - including Imperial College London and 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge - had already signed 바카라사이트 pledge.

"It is not about shouting about [animal research], but being open when it is part of 바카라사이트 story of science," she said.

Universities and science minister David Willetts also pledged his support for 바카라사이트 campaign, and said 바카라사이트 government could help by emphasising that 바카라사이트 rules governing animal research in 바카라사이트 UK were among 바카라사이트 tightest in 바카라사이트 world.

Sir Mark Walport, director of 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, said 바카라사이트 concordat would set out "roles and responsibilities" relating to 바카라사이트 campaign, but said it was "just a start". He also encouraged o바카라사이트r universities who had not been immediately approached to add 바카라사이트ir names to 바카라사이트 list of signatories.

He suggested that practical measures - which will be set out in 바카라사이트 concordat - could include "scientists talking about animal research and [providing] 바카라사이트 opportunity for people to see what goes on in animal houses".

"The environment of intimidation hasn't gone away but 바카라사이트re is something about safety in numbers," he added.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com