Stand Up For Science

The author Terry Pratchett, who is best known for writing the hugely inventive Discworld novels, has handed a petition to number 10 Downing street calling on the government to increase spending on research into the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The petition has been signed by 20,000 people, including over 100 leading scientists, and
is backed by the Alzheimer's Research Trust, the UK's leading research charity for dementia.

The Alzheimer's Research Trust strongly supports high quality animal research, and currently funds several projects that involve the use of animals. That they do so is hardly a surprise since animal research has made a major contribution to the development of potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease, some of which we discussed recently on our science blog.

Pro-Test wishes Terry Pratchett and the Alzheimer's Research Trust every success on this campaign. Oxford University is an important centre for research into Alzheimer's disease, indeed the new biomedical sciences building for which we have campaigned will soon house some of this work, so we understand just how vital it is that it advances.

Interestingly the BBC report listed Tony Benn, a long time opponent of animal research, among those who have signed the petition. Could this be a sign that he is now willing to listen to the scientists working on Alzheimer's disease rather than his friends in the animal rights movement? Well one can only live in hope!

Regards

Paul Browne