Trieste says NO to Animal Research Facility

We are a group of students and graduates in the field of biomedical sciences, joined by other concerned members of the public, who have become aware of the fact that the Animal Research Facility at the University of Trieste will be reconstructed and expanded with 459,458.46 Euros from public funds. Given that a growing number of scientists, researchers and scientific publications raise doubts on the use of animal models in biomedical research, questioning its methodological/scientific validity, that research can now rely on modern methods which do not involve the use of animals and it is possible to conduct research and testing with multiple applications, and that current European scientific (and political) scene (Dir 86/609 and Leg. Decree 116/92) has witnessed strong efforts in the direction of replacement of animals in research with modern methods: in the area of cosmetics production (Leg. Decree 2003/15), in toxicity tests proposed in the draft regulation REACH, in the recent official commitment of the European Directorate General for Industry in favour of alternative methods, We ask: not to waste this opportunity (and public funds) reconstructing the old Animal Research Facility, instead we believe that circumstances exist for a complete reorganisation of the current structure and for the establishment of a modern research centre which abandons the use of animals and offers Trieste, the city of science, the opportunity to figure among the major proponents of innovative scientific research. This would also give new opportunities to young researchers to join a research environment dedicated to a field destined for expansion.