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UK review of the use of primates
The UK scientific community has set up a review of primate research.
Four leading scientific organisations in the United Kingdom have announced that they will be conducting a major review of the use of primates in research. The Academy of Medical Sciences, the Royal Society, the Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust are setting up a working group to examine the recent, current and future scientific basis for biological and medical research involving non-human primates.
The working group will be chaired by the eminent medical researcher Sir David Weatherall and its members will include a broad range of scientific expertise, in addition to ethical and lay representation. Professor Colin Blakemore, Chief Executive of the Medical Research Council commented, “"Research on monkeys has been particularly important for vaccine development- particularly polio vaccine - but also the recent testing of possible HIV vaccines. It's also been essential for developing new treatments for hepatitis, reproductive disorders, infertility, and so on, and in the future it will be crucial for the development of treatments for brain disorders.”