Animals are used as models for research into human diseases, injuries, psychology, and medical treatments. In biomedical research, scientists attempt to circumvent the natural differences between humans and other animals by unnaturally infecting them with human-specific diseases with the hope that they will suffer in the same way a human would. The fact that scientists have to induce or create disease in other animals indicates that animal models are neither appropriate nor applicable in studying human disease or other ailments.

In developing new genetic engineering technologies, biomedical researchers acknowledge common occurrences of increased suffering, high death rates, and other negative health consequences for the millions of animals used. Tens of thousands of animals, such as pigs and non-human primates, have been killed to try to produce cells, organs, and tissues for transplantation into humans (xenotransplantation).

In addition, animals utilized in other types of research also suffer tremendous physical and mental anguish as they are intentionally burned or injured (e.g. severed spinal cord, brain trauma), used as models of abused children (e.g. maternal deprivation), or forced to become addicted to drugs or alcohol.

AAVS believes that animals have the right to not be exploited for science.

See the issues of AV Magazine entitled, “Animal Research: At What Cost?” (Summer 2001) and “Ethics: Thinking Outside the Cage” (Spring 2002)