BUAV reveals horrific monkey brain experiments at Cambridge University and accuses Home Secretary of breaking the law

The BUAV (British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection) has today launched the shocking results of a major 10-month undercover investigation into one of the UK's 'top' academic brain research centres, Cambridge University, which yesterday received government backing by the UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

A BUAV investigator secretly filmed the pitiful plight of deliberately brain damaged marmoset monkeys. This is the first time the full in-depth horror of UK primate research has been exposed, and provides a unique and chilling insight into the reality of 'medical research' using animals.

The monkey brain experiments at Cambridge were allowed by the Home Office to be licensed under only the "moderate suffering" category instead of the clearly more appropriate "substantial suffering". This means the licence applications will not have gone through an extra ethical and scientific review by the government's advisory panel, the Animal Procedures Committee (APC). The BUAV's evidence clearly shows that these monkeys endured substantial suffering and yet the government has ignored it.

The BUAV believes the Home Secretary has therefore acted unlawfully by:

* Underestimating the level of suffering in applying the cost:benefit test and licensing the experiments in the first place.

* Categorising the research as "moderate suffering".

* Failing to review the licences to reflect a higher level of animal suffering once the project was in progress.

* Sanctioning housing conditions which breach European law The BUAV believes this is a clear example of how the Home Office is allowing animals in UK labs to suffer severe effects without that suffering being properly scrutinised and recorded.

The monkeys at Cambridge University were used in experiments for Parkinson's Disease, stroke and fundamental research into brain function. Yet the BUAV's evidence shows clearly how crude this "cutting edge" research truly is, and highlights the reasons why brain damaging monkeys is immoral. We also believe it is an outdated and flawed methodology.

Early this year Cambridge University's planning application to expand its primate research facility at a site in Girton, was turned down by the local authority. At the time Science Minister Lord Sainsbury gave the application government backing and said: "I confirm that the DTI would regard this proposal as nationally important. The UK has world-class neuroscience, and this Centre would consolidate the UK's position as a global leader." Earlier this month Cambridge University began an appeal against the council's decision to reject its application.

Yesterday at a speech to the Royal Society, Tony Blair defended the research at Cambridge by saying: "... Cambridge University intends to build a new centre for neurological research. Part of this would involve using primates to test potential cures for diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. But there is a chance the centre will not be built because of concerns about public safety dangers and unlawful protests. We cannot have vital work stifled simply because it is controversial."

The BUAV contends that what the government is in fact stifling, is the public's right to the truth about the type of animal suffering that is permitted in this country.

The BUAV investigation at Cambridge University revealed:

* At Cambridge the marmosets are imprisoned in small, metal, barren cages with almost no environmental enrichment. Marmosets naturally have 20-acre territories in Brazilian swamps & forest.

* The housing used at Cambridge contradicts European law and UK government Code of Practice recommendations.

* Gruesome surgery that involved sawing open the monkey's skull, cutting and scraping away the muscle and then deliberately damaging an area of the brain by either sucking out sections, cutting, or injecting toxins. After that the skull was closed, the muscles glued back on and the scalp stitched together.

* Brain damaged monkeys suffered bleeding head wounds, fits, vomiting, severe bruising, whole-body tremors and mental and physical disabilities.

* Some monkeys died following surgery or had to be killed due to their level of suffering.

* Experimental monkeys were made to learn tedious and repetitive "tasks" for weeks before brain damage.

* Following brain damage, other tests included shutting monkeys in tiny boxes, sometimes for up to one hour and giving them 'speed'.

* To make them 'work' for rewards, some monkeys were kept on water deprivation including being denied water for 22 out of 24 hours and/or food restriction.

* "Excess" babies were allowed to die.

* Some brain damaged monkeys were left unmonitored overnight for many hours after surgery.

* Staff callously commented that cutting off a monkey's skull is like "taking a lid off ... and plonking it back on again" and that "it's good fun to get them [the monkeys] to do different tasks."

Michelle Thew, BUAV Chief Executive says: "The BUAV's Cutting Edge exposé throws the spotlight of public scrutiny on one of the most secret areas of animal experimentation at what is claimed to be a flagship laboratory. The public are continually told that animal experiments are vital to save human lives and that the UK has strict controls to ensure minimal animal suffering.

This simply isn't true. Here at Cambridge we see hundreds of monkeys subjected to pitiful conditions and horrific, severe brain damage in cruel, outdated and scientifically flawed experiments. Animals like this suffer behind closed doors every day but both the government and the industry have been happy to deny the public the truth and mislead them about what really goes on in UK labs. The public deserves better, and so do the animals."

"We are appalled that the Prime Minister is prepared to publicly defend Cambridge University and the animal suffering that is going on there, particularly as we believe the Home Secretary has acted unlawfully in the licensing of these experiments . In his defence of this institution, the Prime Minister has chosen to stereotype animal rights campaigners as anti-science when the truth is any rational person would be both utterly appalled by the level of suffering permitted in these experiments and astonished by the unsophisticated nature of the science . Instead of disengaging with an increasingly sceptical public and keeping the truth about animal experiments hidden from public scrutiny, it's time the government started to be honest with the British people and to listen to their legitimate concerns."

The BUAV is demanding that Cambridge University's licence to continue these experiments be revoked. The Cutting Edge exposé marks the launch of the BUAV's Zero Option Campaign demanding an end to all UK monkey experiments.

In 1998 the UK government banned UK experiments on great apes because of their sentiency and capacity to suffer. The BUAV believes the same should be true of all animals, but at the very least the UK government should extend the great ape ban to include all primates. The time has come to stop their suffering - it's time for the Zero Option

The BUAV will be holding a series of public meetings around the UK to present its disturbing evidence of animal suffering at Cambridge University, including undercover footage from the investigation. If you would like to
attend any of the meetings (below) please email the BUAV on: uktour@buav.org

London
Date: May 27th
Location: London Metro Cinema, Leicester Square
Time: 7.15pm

Cambridge
Date: May 28th
Location: Royal Cambridge Hotel, Trumpington Street
Time: 7.15pm

Cardiff
Date: June 11th
Location: County Hall, Cardiff Bay
Time: 6.30pm

Bristol
Date: June 12th
Location: "At Bristol", Bristol Harbour Side
Time: 7pm

Exeter
Date: June 19th
Location: Picture House
Time: 7.15pm

Southampton
Date: June 20th
Location: Picture House
Time: 7.15pm

Manchester
Date: June 25th
Location: Film Works, Dantzic Street
Time: 7.15pm

Birmingham
Date: June 26th
Location: Electric Cinema, Station Street
Time: 6.30pm

Edinburgh
Date: July 2nd
Location: Dominion Theatre, New Battle Terrace
Time: 6pm

Seats subject to availability. For further details about locations, contact
the BUAV.

For a Cutting Edge info pack contact:
British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV)
16a Crane Grove
London N7 8NN
UK

Further to the above article:

Tony Blair had stepped in to overturn the planning ban at Girton, Cambs, and the lab would now get the go ahead. He will also throw loads of money at the police so the place can be "protected". Blair has been listening to and has received about £6 million from Lord Sainsbury in donations.