HUNDREDS AT UCLA RALLY PRO-TEST FOR RESEARCH

As many as 400 people rallied in support of scientists who use animals in research Thursday on the UCLA campus.

The rally was organized by Pro-Test for Science, a grassroots organization of faculty, staff, students and other individuals concerned by violent attacks against scientists by animal rights militants.

The Pro-Test Petition, a statement of principles in support of science, was presented to two NIH representatives who addressed the crowd. Over 11,600 people signed the Petition, a joint project of Americans for Medical Progress, Pro-Test for Science and Speaking of Research (see www.raisingvoices.net).

At the same time, a virtual rally was observed:
Over 100 others left messages of solidarity for Pro-Test (It's not too late for you to do so - go to http://speakingofresearch.com/2010/04/07/im-pro-test-ill-prove-it/).
The Society of Neuroscience sent a letter of support to the organizers (It may be read online at http://speakingofresearch.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/sfn-letter-to-ptfs-april-2010.pdf).  
Several individuals went onto Twitter to broadcast their encouragement and reasons for being in support of research (See the #ptfs hashtag). 
Several ScienceBloggers contributed their thoughts, including
Terra Sig Illata (http://scienceblogs.com/terrasig/2010/04/i_am_pro-test_responsible_anim.php),
Adventures in Ethics and Science (http://scienceblogs.com/ethicsandscience/2010/04/standing_up_for_what_we_believ.php), 
DrugMonkey ( http://scienceblogs.com/drugmonkey/2010/04/second_annual_rally_in_support.php)
Neurotopia  http://scienceblogs.com/neurotopia/2010/04/rally_in_support_of_biomedical.php)  and
The Scientific Activist (http://scienceblogs.com/scientificactivist/2010/04/second_ucla_pro-test_rally_sen.php)

A few excerpts from those covering the Pro-Test rally help to describe the day. Click on the links to see each full article:

Speaking of Research - Tom Holder
http://speakingofresearch.com/2010/04/08/several-hundred-pro-test-for-science/
(Post includes numerous pictures of the Pro-Test rally)

On a beautiful sunny day in Los Angeles, Pro-Test for Science organizers arrived at the junction of Le Conte and Westwood, on the edge of the UCLA campus, with armfuls of placards in support of animal research. Within ten minutes every placard had found a new owner as hundreds of scientists, students and members of the public showed up to support the cause. Those gathering chatted together, sharing their reasons for attending the rally.

Those participating were not limited to the UCLA community. Faculty from University of Southern California, California Institute of Technology, and California State University – Los Angeles, all came out to demonstrate their support for lifesaving medical research using animals. Soon the chants began to ring out – “Penicillin? ANIMAL RESEARCH! Insulin? ANIMAL RESEARCH! Vaccines? ANIMAL RESEARCH! Anaesthetics? ANIMAL RESEARCH!” A short while later, when the crowd had swelled further, the rally set off towards the center of the UCLA campus.

UCLA Newsroom - Alison Hewitt
http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/pro-test-rally-on-thursday-supports-156384.aspx

The rally, organized by the group Pro-Test for Science, was a follow-up to a similar rally at UCLA last year. Speakers at today’s rally included organizer and neuroscientist David Jentsch, who formed Pro-Test after his car was firebombed by animal rights activists last year; Kevin Quinn, a branch chief at the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health; Michael Steinmetz, a program officer at the U.S. National Eye Institute; and UCLA Executive Vice Chancellor Scott Waugh...

...Animal research is vital to uncovering treatments for brain disorders, from autism to schizophrenia, said Kevin Quinn, a branch chief from the National Institute of Mental Health.  

"Animal research conducted in a humane, ethical and responsible manner is absolutely critical … to understand, treat and cure mental disorders," he said.

Families spend decades dealing with illnesses diagnosed in children — illnesses the NIMH believes can eventually be treated, Quinn added

 "These disorders are brain disorders, probably the most complex structure in existence. We need animal research to tease apart the complex functioning of the brain so we can understand and treat these disorders," he said.

Animal research does not produce medical breakthroughs every day, said Michael Steinmetz, a program director with the National Eye Institute. The foundations of those breakthroughs are discovered one building block at a time by basic research that must be supported, he said.

 "The National Eye Institute supports strongly the use of appropriate animal models in research, not just for the big clinical advances but for the many, many years of basic science that it takes to discover the underlying biological principles," Steinmetz said. "Along with the privilege of using animals comes a responsibility to see that the animals are used in a humane fashion … We should all take a very firm stand on that."

Nature Blog: The Great Beyond - Erika Check Hayden
http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2010/04/second_protest_rally_draws_hun.html

[Pro-Test for Science founder David]Jentsch said that one animal rights activist protested the rally.

Jentsch said that in some ways, conditions for researchers have improved since the 2009 rally. For instance, no criminal attacks have taken place against UCLA researchers in the past year, and two activists with the Animal Liberation Front have been indicted for harassing UCLA researchers. In March, one pleaded guilty to the charges; the other pleaded no contest and will be sentenced next month.

Jentsch says that Pro-Test has worked to confront anti-research protesters on campus, and has built opposition to violence by organizing dialogues with peaceful groups that oppose animal research.

As a result, Jentsch said, animal rights groups have stepped down their attacks on UCLA researchers.

“These groups never expected that anybody on the scientific side would challenge them openly when they came to campus and marched around, so when they come to campus and we’re there, it’s quite remarkable – it has a chilling effect on their behavior,” Jentsch said.