In the June 17 editorial “Freeing chimpanzees from the research lab,” you gave readers the impression that scientists have moved on from animal research, having developed methods that allow “research without animal testing.” While new, animal-free technologies are enriching biological research, animal research continues to be essential in our efforts to understand biology and fight disease.
By law, scientists can use animals for research only when there are no other options, and they must use the fewest number possible to arrive at a conclusion. While so-called organs-on-a-chip technology offers tremendous potential, it cannot yet replace animal research. How will these chips tell us how a drug interacts with the fetus of a pregnant mother? At present, we are dependent upon animals to understand the mechanisms of disease and evaluate therapies to treat them.
You described the pioneering role chimpanzees played in space exploration. However, you neglected to mention the role chimpanzees have played in the development of vaccines, including those for hepatitis A and B. Please do not discount important animal research that has the potential to benefit us all.
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