Science Takes Case for Animal Research to the People

A decline in U.S. public support for the use of animals in research has led to an aggressive campaign by biomedical researchers to promote and defend the use of animals in medical and pharmaceutical research.

A recent surge of messaging on billboards, social media outlets, and TV commercials is a response to a drop in public support of animal research for science and medical reasons. From 2000 to 2008, support for animal research declined from 70% to 54%. According to a July 2009 Pew Foundation poll, only slightly more than half (52%) of the public supports such research.

According to biomedical researchers, this decline is likely due to the fact that people don’t see the connection between science and biomedical research and progress. The Foundation for Biomedical Research claims that campaigns have already boosted support for such research to 61%.