Americans for Medical Progress Statement on Ongoing Misinformation Campaign Targeting the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
October 28, 2021
Efforts by a collection of animal rights organizations this week to mislead the public about critical health research in animals is nothing less than appalling. These groups have essentially accused the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of “medieval torture.” However, as the Washington Post noted, “The only thing being tortured here is the truth.” So many critical facts were missing or purposefully misconstrued by activists, it’s no wonder people are upset. Here are just a few of the important details that were left out:
● The research took place in dogs because much of the work was focused on developing dog vaccines to combat leishmaniasis, a dangerous parasitic disease that threatens both canines and humans. One must logically study dogs in order to develop dog medications. To suggest otherwise is nonsensical.
● An additional reason why leishmaniasis research occurs in canines is because the disease frequently uses dogs as disease hosts. It then jumps to humans via sand fly bites. This demonstrates again why creating a vaccine for dogs is so critically important.
● There are significant factual errors in the claims circulated by animal activists. One of the three research projects that was criticized was never funded by the NIAID or the NIH. As a result, the photo of research animals under mosquito netting that appeared in nearly all the news coverage was also highly misleading.
● Regarding the research that was funded by the NIH, records show extensive steps were taken to ensure the animals involved in studies did not suffer. They were not “eaten alive” by flies as activists have falsely claimed.
Americans for Medical Progress Statement on Research Animal Adoptions and Retirements
August 3, 2022
On occasion, news events generate public questions about the retirement or adoption of animals previously involved in biomedical research that advances both human and veterinary medicine. Below is a statement from Americans for Medical Progress to provide important information and context.
In most cases, animals involved in biomedical research must be humanely euthanized to obtain critical data being sought to improve human and animal health. However, when this is not necessary, Americans for Medical Progress fully supports the retirement and adoption of research animals, whenever possible. In fact, many scientific organizations in the United States have already established their own adoption/retirement policies and procedures to ensure their animals are well cared for after studies are completed.
Wayne State University Scientist Awarded ACNP-AMP BRAD Fellowship to Educate the Public About the Role of Animals in Brain and Behavior Research
August 3, 2022
Lana Ruvolo Grasser, Ph.D., a research associate at Wayne State University has been awarded the ACNP-AMP BRAD Fellowship. The fellowship is a partnership between the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and the health research advocacy group Americans for Medical Progress (AMP). It was created to help raise public awareness about the essential role of animals in health research, specifically for the study of brain-behavior-drug interactions and advancements in psychopharmacology, the study of medications for treating mental disorders. Fellowship winners also help promote careers in the field of neuropsychopharmacology, the study of all forms of mental illness and their treatment.
AMP Statement on the Continued Need for Animal Studies in Dogs in Light of Highly Publicized Canine Breeding Facility Closure
July 21, 2022
News coverage of the closure of a Virginia facility that breeds dogs for human and veterinary health research has prompted numerous questions from the public. Many Americans want to know why research in canines takes place, how often these studies occur and why there are no alternatives. Below is a statement from Americans for Medical Progress in response to some of the most commonly asked questions.
Studies in dogs frequently help ensure new medications developed for human and animal use are safe and do not pose serious health risks. We simply must be as certain as possible that the medicines we ingest or provide to our loved ones will not cause harm. But research in dogs is far from the first step in this incredibly important process. These tests typically begin in cell cultures and in computer models. Once these non-animal assessments are completed and initial safety indications are met, tests in rodents then take place. Barring any problems in these small animal models, an assessment in a larger animal species comes next. When this step is finally reached, dogs are often required because canines provide highly meaningful data that has been clearly shown to translate to human health use.
Americans for Medical Progress Statement on Monkeypox Outbreak
June 1, 2022
Infectious disease outbreaks are serious public health issues. Therefore, at-risk individuals should be informed of all disease outbreaks. This applies to the seasonal flu and also unique, new disease challenges, such as COVID-19. In every case, two critical factors should always be weighed by the public: the seriousness of the disease for those who become infected and the transmissibility risk. Monkeypox can and has caused serious disease in previous outbreaks, such as a small cluster of cases in Wisconsin in 2003. However, it does not spread anywhere as easily as other infectious diseases. This is why vaccination and quarantine have been highly effective in controlling past outbreaks. We firmly believe it’s highly likely the current cases that have arisen in the United States can also be resolved using these same tested tools.
Federal Judge Orders Injunction to Protect University of Washington Committee Members Following Home Harassment, Other Threatening Incidents
May 17, 2022
A federal judge sided with members of a University of Washington research committee seeking to protect themselves and their families from escalating harassment by animal rights activists. U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones granted a motion for preliminary injunction which prevents the University of Washington from releasing personal information requested by animal activists. If released, the details could be used to intimidate or threaten committee members.
Members of University Research Committee Jointly File Lawsuit Against University of Washington
February 24, 2022
Five members of a University of Washington committee responsible for reviewing all animal-based research proposals have filed a lawsuit against the university seeking to protect themselves, their families and their colleagues from escalating hostility and harassment from activists who oppose animal research.
Members of University Research Committee Jointly File Lawsuit Against University of Washington
Seattle, WA – Five members of a University of Washington committee responsible for reviewing all animal-based research proposals have filed a federal lawsuit against the university seeking to protect themselves, their families and their colleagues from escalating hostility and harassment from activists who oppose animal research.
The five Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) members are asking the courts to block attempts by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to obtain their identities and also the names of more than 70 of their fellow colleagues who either currently serve or have served on the University of Washington IACUC committee.
This request comes in the wake of several troubling incidents highlighted in court filings. These include:
- The recent harassment of a University of Washington faculty member at home by a group of protestors. The gathering was organized by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the same group that is now requesting the names of additional University of Washington IACUC members as well as alternate and previous committee members.
- Several threatening emails, letters and voice messages to university staff that have, among other things, referred to health researchers who work with animals as “vile [expletive] humans” adding “I’m going to do what is necessary to stop animal research.”
- A series of hostile/menacing comments recently made by members of the public attending UW IACUC meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic via Zoom. During these meetings, University of Washington labs have been likened to “Auschwitz”, and members of the university IACUC have been compared to “Nazis” and deemed “sadistic”. Note: Individual committee member names are not displayed during these meetings for personal safety and security reasons.
Americans for Medical Progress Statement on Pennsylvania Truck Accident Involving Monkeys Being Transported for Health Research
January 26, 2022
Last weekend’s truck crash in Pennsylvania, which sadly resulted in the deaths of three research monkeys, continues to receive widespread media attention across the United States and beyond. Following Friday’s accident, questions, concerns and even conspiracy theories have begun circulating.
Because this unfortunate incident continues to raise questions and generate news coverage, Americans for Medical Progress, a nonprofit organization which supports the advancement of human and animal medicine through responsible and highly regulated research in animals, wishes to provide some helpful information and context. Below is a statement from our organization.
Excerpt..
“Our organization has consulted with veterinary experts. In doing so, we have learned that while monkeys can carry a small number of naturally occurring diseases, the risks in this case were likely very minimal. Only a handful of people approached the animals. Nobody appears to have been bitten or scratched. Furthermore, stories that a member of the public became ill after the accident are apparently untrue. As the motorist in question explained to a local reporter: “I want people to know that I’m not sick despite what they read in the media.” She is wisely following the advice of federal health experts and is receiving preventative treatment as a precautionary measure.”
Americans for Medical Progress Honors the Animals Behind the COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments
November 10, 2021
Americans for Medical Progress, a nonprofit organization that supports the advancement of human and animal medicine through responsible and highly-regulated animal research, has released a series of posters to recognize the unsung heroes behind the COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
According to a recently released statistical analysis, coronavirus vaccination is estimated to have saved approximately 140,000 American lives between the time the vaccines were initially made available for use and May 9, 2021.
“The COVID-19 vaccines are perhaps the biggest medical breakthroughs of our lifetimes. However, despite the huge impact that coronavirus has had on all of us, many Americans are likely not fully aware of how these vaccines came to be,” said Paula Clifford, Executive Director of Americans for Medical Progress. “That’s why we decided to release a series of posters to highlight the critical role of animal studies in making these lifesaving interventions available.”
