much is said about animal experimentation these days
experimentation these days
experimentation these days basically there are two schools of
basically there are two schools of
basically there are two schools of thought on the one hand we have the on
thought on the one hand we have the on
thought on the one hand we have the on tv’ section lists and the auntie’s
tv’ section lists and the auntie’s
tv’ section lists and the auntie’s speciesism and animal rights groups who
speciesism and animal rights groups who
speciesism and animal rights groups who claim that animal testing is not only
claim that animal testing is not only
claim that animal testing is not only unethical but completely useless because
unethical but completely useless because
unethical but completely useless because as Thomas hearting said we’re not 70
as Thomas hearting said we’re not 70
as Thomas hearting said we’re not 70 kilogram rats on the other hand we have
kilogram rats on the other hand we have
kilogram rats on the other hand we have the pro human pro life and quite often
the pro human pro life and quite often
the pro human pro life and quite often self declared through science groups who
self declared through science groups who
self declared through science groups who hinge their arguments on the value of
hinge their arguments on the value of
hinge their arguments on the value of human life and on the importance of
human life and on the importance of
human life and on the importance of animal experiments into the most
animal experiments into the most
animal experiments into the most important discoveries in biomedical
important discoveries in biomedical
important discoveries in biomedical science so in the name of scientific
science so in the name of scientific
science so in the name of scientific progress and for the benefit of
progress and for the benefit of
progress and for the benefit of humankind
humankind
humankind they claim that analytics firms are
they claim that analytics firms are
they claim that analytics firms are essential because we do after all share
essential because we do after all share
essential because we do after all share more than 90% of our genes with mice the
more than 90% of our genes with mice the
more than 90% of our genes with mice the two groups basically represent two
two groups basically represent two
two groups basically represent two contrasting ideologies and they present
contrasting ideologies and they present
contrasting ideologies and they present their arguments using data from
their arguments using data from
their arguments using data from different sources but they only choose
different sources but they only choose
different sources but they only choose the data that match their views while
the data that match their views while
the data that match their views while ignoring all the rest this is a well
ignoring all the rest this is a well
ignoring all the rest this is a well known behavioral phenomenon known as
known behavioral phenomenon known as
known behavioral phenomenon known as confirmation bias for instance the first
confirmation bias for instance the first
confirmation bias for instance the first group often cite the fact that 92% of
group often cite the fact that 92% of
group often cite the fact that 92% of drugs that are tested on animals fail
drugs that are tested on animals fail
drugs that are tested on animals fail when they used in humans the data comes
when they used in humans the data comes
when they used in humans the data comes from a 2004 FDA report which actually
from a 2004 FDA report which actually
from a 2004 FDA report which actually states that only 8% of drugs which are
states that only 8% of drugs which are
states that only 8% of drugs which are used in the first phase of clinical
used in the first phase of clinical
used in the first phase of clinical testing go on to be sold in the market
testing go on to be sold in the market
testing go on to be sold in the market in reality only one in five thousands of
in reality only one in five thousands of
in reality only one in five thousands of the chemical compounds developed of
the chemical compounds developed of
the chemical compounds developed of pharmaceutical purposes actually end up
pharmaceutical purposes actually end up
pharmaceutical purposes actually end up being sold on the market because most of
being sold on the market because most of
being sold on the market because most of them are rooted are long before being
them are rooted are long before being
them are rooted are long before being tested on animals
tested on animals
tested on animals the second group quite often remind us
the second group quite often remind us
the second group quite often remind us that vaccines such as polio tuberculosis
that vaccines such as polio tuberculosis
that vaccines such as polio tuberculosis measles and hepatitis B as well as
measles and hepatitis B as well as
measles and hepatitis B as well as medicines and
medicines and
medicines and biotics which have saved the lives of
biotics which have saved the lives of
biotics which have saved the lives of millions of people were developed thanks
millions of people were developed thanks
millions of people were developed thanks to animal experiments this is quite true
to animal experiments this is quite true
to animal experiments this is quite true but they don’t mention drugs like
but they don’t mention drugs like
but they don’t mention drugs like falooda mite which was sold as an
falooda mite which was sold as an
falooda mite which was sold as an anti-nausea drug to pregnant women in
anti-nausea drug to pregnant women in
anti-nausea drug to pregnant women in the 1950s and because and cause severe
the 1950s and because and cause severe
the 1950s and because and cause severe limb deformities in over 10,000 newborn
limb deformities in over 10,000 newborn
limb deformities in over 10,000 newborn babies or other drugs like by ox and Roz
babies or other drugs like by ox and Roz
babies or other drugs like by ox and Roz glycerin which caused tens of thousands
glycerin which caused tens of thousands
glycerin which caused tens of thousands of heart attacks but without doubt
of heart attacks but without doubt
of heart attacks but without doubt animal experiments were necessary to
animal experiments were necessary to
animal experiments were necessary to understand us but if we look at the
understand us but if we look at the
understand us but if we look at the overall evidence we cannot reasonably
overall evidence we cannot reasonably
overall evidence we cannot reasonably state that animal experiments are
state that animal experiments are
state that animal experiments are useless in fact we know that infant
useless in fact we know that infant
useless in fact we know that infant mortality has declined whereas life
mortality has declined whereas life
mortality has declined whereas life expectancy has increased considerably
expectancy has increased considerably
expectancy has increased considerably over the past 100 years this is partly
over the past 100 years this is partly
over the past 100 years this is partly due to access to clean water sanitation
due to access to clean water sanitation
due to access to clean water sanitation and hygiene but particularly since the
and hygiene but particularly since the
and hygiene but particularly since the 1950s it’s due to progress in medical
1950s it’s due to progress in medical
1950s it’s due to progress in medical science I can cite several examples not
science I can cite several examples not
science I can cite several examples not just drugs and vaccines for instance
just drugs and vaccines for instance
just drugs and vaccines for instance kidney heart and liver transplants
kidney heart and liver transplants
kidney heart and liver transplants vascular prosthesis stents hip and knee
vascular prosthesis stents hip and knee
vascular prosthesis stents hip and knee replacements to give you an example the
replacements to give you an example the
replacements to give you an example the Nobel prize-winning surgeon Joseph
Nobel prize-winning surgeon Joseph
Nobel prize-winning surgeon Joseph Murray expend experimented on 600 dogs
Murray expend experimented on 600 dogs
Murray expend experimented on 600 dogs before safely starting with human kidney
before safely starting with human kidney
before safely starting with human kidney transplants today 8,000 80,000 people
transplants today 8,000 80,000 people
transplants today 8,000 80,000 people all over the world receive a kidney
all over the world receive a kidney
all over the world receive a kidney transplant every year transplants and
transplant every year transplants and
transplant every year transplants and implants were aided by the discovery of
implants were aided by the discovery of
implants were aided by the discovery of anticoagulants such as heparin which was
anticoagulants such as heparin which was
anticoagulants such as heparin which was first extracted from the livers of dogs
first extracted from the livers of dogs
first extracted from the livers of dogs in the 1930s and we don’t even need to
in the 1930s and we don’t even need to
in the 1930s and we don’t even need to go so far back in time for example the
go so far back in time for example the
go so far back in time for example the Nobel prize-winning Japanese scientist
Nobel prize-winning Japanese scientist
Nobel prize-winning Japanese scientist Yamanaka was able to generate induced
Yamanaka was able to generate induced
Yamanaka was able to generate induced pluripotent stem cells from the cells of
pluripotent stem cells from the cells of
pluripotent stem cells from the cells of adult mice in 2006 these cells are now
adult mice in 2006 these cells are now
adult mice in 2006 these cells are now considered as a promising method for
considered as a promising method for
considered as a promising method for curing several illnesses and have
curing several illnesses and have
curing several illnesses and have revolutionized biomedical research today
revolutionized biomedical research today
revolutionized biomedical research today so with that diet animal experiments
so with that diet animal experiments
so with that diet animal experiments were necessary to understand what could
were necessary to understand what could
were necessary to understand what could happen in the human body and help thee
happen in the human body and help thee
happen in the human body and help thee know and have helped lead to many of the
know and have helped lead to many of the
know and have helped lead to many of the scientific discoveries that we all
scientific discoveries that we all
scientific discoveries that we all benefit from today but note that I said
benefit from today but note that I said
benefit from today but note that I said to understand what could happen in the
to understand what could happen in the
to understand what could happen in the human body not what does happen that’s
human body not what does happen that’s
human body not what does happen that’s because our hypothesis is based on the
because our hypothesis is based on the
because our hypothesis is based on the fact that animals as humans are similar
fact that animals as humans are similar
fact that animals as humans are similar so it’s quite often possible to predict
so it’s quite often possible to predict
so it’s quite often possible to predict what will happen to in a human based on
what will happen to in a human based on
what will happen to in a human based on observations made on a rat or another
observations made on a rat or another
observations made on a rat or another animal that is the animal is an
animal that is the animal is an
animal that is the animal is an approximation of a human being
approximation of a human being
approximation of a human being in fact for 91% of the experiments
in fact for 91% of the experiments
in fact for 91% of the experiments carried of the expert animal experiments
carried of the expert animal experiments
carried of the expert animal experiments carried out only in the EU the animal is
carried out only in the EU the animal is
carried out only in the EU the animal is a model of a human being so it’s then up
a model of a human being so it’s then up
a model of a human being so it’s then up to us to extrapolate the results
to us to extrapolate the results
to us to extrapolate the results obtained in the lab to humans
obtained in the lab to humans
obtained in the lab to humans accepting the risks and limitations
accepting the risks and limitations
accepting the risks and limitations associated with the model a hundred and
associated with the model a hundred and
associated with the model a hundred and even ten to fifteen years ago animal
even ten to fifteen years ago animal
even ten to fifteen years ago animal experiments were necessary simply
experiments were necessary simply
experiments were necessary simply because we didn’t have appropriate
because we didn’t have appropriate
because we didn’t have appropriate technology to even think of doing
technology to even think of doing
technology to even think of doing otherwise we couldn’t even dream of
otherwise we couldn’t even dream of
otherwise we couldn’t even dream of engineering the 3d bio artificial
engineering the 3d bio artificial
engineering the 3d bio artificial systems in the lab we couldn’t even
systems in the lab we couldn’t even
systems in the lab we couldn’t even think of replicating the metabolic or
think of replicating the metabolic or
think of replicating the metabolic or physiological functions of a human or
physiological functions of a human or
physiological functions of a human or even an animal using a cell culture but
even an animal using a cell culture but
even an animal using a cell culture but today we not only dream and think about
today we not only dream and think about
today we not only dream and think about it we’re actually trying to replicate
it we’re actually trying to replicate
it we’re actually trying to replicate those very functions in our labs but
those very functions in our labs but
those very functions in our labs but just because we can’t actually we’re
just because we can’t actually we’re
just because we can’t actually we’re just because we’re thinking of doing it
just because we’re thinking of doing it
just because we’re thinking of doing it at the moment it doesn’t mean that we
at the moment it doesn’t mean that we
at the moment it doesn’t mean that we should just stop there and carry on
should just stop there and carry on
should just stop there and carry on using animals to test drugs chemicals
using animals to test drugs chemicals
using animals to test drugs chemicals and human diseases using animals like
and human diseases using animals like
and human diseases using animals like our predecessors did I’m going to use an
our predecessors did I’m going to use an
our predecessors did I’m going to use an analogy to help you answer this question
analogy to help you answer this question
analogy to help you answer this question this is the first time I’ve been to
this is the first time I’ve been to
this is the first time I’ve been to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto we hide a car and drove here from
we hide a car and drove here from
we hide a car and drove here from Brindisi Airport using the navigation
Brindisi Airport using the navigation
Brindisi Airport using the navigation app on my mobile phone a hundred years
app on my mobile phone a hundred years
app on my mobile phone a hundred years ago I perhaps have arrived here in a
ago I perhaps have arrived here in a
ago I perhaps have arrived here in a horse carriage and used a paper map to
horse carriage and used a paper map to
horse carriage and used a paper map to get here in the past 100 years we’ve
get here in the past 100 years we’ve
get here in the past 100 years we’ve made huge progress in our navigation
made huge progress in our navigation
made huge progress in our navigation technology just think about it
technology just think about it
technology just think about it thousands of years ago our ancestors use
thousands of years ago our ancestors use
thousands of years ago our ancestors use the map yeah use the Stars to figure out
the map yeah use the Stars to figure out
the map yeah use the Stars to figure out where they were and where they were
where they were and where they were
where they were and where they were going then we started using tools like
going then we started using tools like
going then we started using tools like the compass paper maps clocks and radio
the compass paper maps clocks and radio
the compass paper maps clocks and radio the GPS system was developed in 1973 and
the GPS system was developed in 1973 and
the GPS system was developed in 1973 and by 2004 people had started using it and
by 2004 people had started using it and
by 2004 people had started using it and handheld units known as tom toms today
handheld units known as tom toms today
handheld units known as tom toms today almost everybody has a GPS receiver
almost everybody has a GPS receiver
almost everybody has a GPS receiver embedded in their mobile phones and we
embedded in their mobile phones and we
embedded in their mobile phones and we know our position to an accuracy of a
know our position to an accuracy of a
know our position to an accuracy of a few meters and we can navigate almost
few meters and we can navigate almost
few meters and we can navigate almost anywhere on earth in other fields such
anywhere on earth in other fields such
anywhere on earth in other fields such as robotics we can make robots that see
as robotics we can make robots that see
as robotics we can make robots that see that assemble cars and even talk to each
that assemble cars and even talk to each
that assemble cars and even talk to each other our parents and grandparents won’t
other our parents and grandparents won’t
other our parents and grandparents won’t have even dreamed of communicating
have even dreamed of communicating
have even dreamed of communicating robots and it’ll were inbuilt navigation
robots and it’ll were inbuilt navigation
robots and it’ll were inbuilt navigation in mobile phones but we’ve not only
in mobile phones but we’ve not only
in mobile phones but we’ve not only dreamed about these we’ve actually built
dreamed about these we’ve actually built
dreamed about these we’ve actually built machines devices and technologies that
machines devices and technologies that
machines devices and technologies that substitute humans in simple and boring
substitute humans in simple and boring
substitute humans in simple and boring tasks so what stops us from thinking of
tasks so what stops us from thinking of
tasks so what stops us from thinking of building device machines devices and
building device machines devices and
building device machines devices and technologies that substitute laboratory
technologies that substitute laboratory
technologies that substitute laboratory mice technologically we’re at a turning
mice technologically we’re at a turning
mice technologically we’re at a turning point in biomedical research today we
point in biomedical research today we
point in biomedical research today we could on the one hand using a navigation
could on the one hand using a navigation
could on the one hand using a navigation analogy stay with Stars and maps on the
analogy stay with Stars and maps on the
analogy stay with Stars and maps on the basis that no human or animal can
basis that no human or animal can
basis that no human or animal can possibly be simulated using a computer
possibly be simulated using a computer
possibly be simulated using a computer or represented using a cell culture and
or represented using a cell culture and
or represented using a cell culture and so we can continue to use animals models
so we can continue to use animals models
so we can continue to use animals models of humans and human diseases just like
of humans and human diseases just like
of humans and human diseases just like we’ve done for over a hundred years or
we’ve done for over a hundred years or
we’ve done for over a hundred years or we could move from sofas simple cell
we could move from sofas simple cell
we could move from sofas simple cell cultures and adopt new technologies and
cultures and adopt new technologies and
cultures and adopt new technologies and new tools
new tools
new tools like those using human induced
like those using human induced
like those using human induced pluripotent stem cells that have the
pluripotent stem cells that have the
pluripotent stem cells that have the potential to generate a mini intestine
potential to generate a mini intestine
potential to generate a mini intestine like hands Cleaver showed in 2009 or a
like hands Cleaver showed in 2009 or a
like hands Cleaver showed in 2009 or a mini liver organoid like turkey we
mini liver organoid like turkey we
mini liver organoid like turkey we showed in 2013 we can use advanced
showed in 2013 we can use advanced
showed in 2013 we can use advanced material fabrication technology to
material fabrication technology to
material fabrication technology to create blood vessels like channels
create blood vessels like channels
create blood vessels like channels between one organoid and another so that
between one organoid and another so that
between one organoid and another so that they can communicate much like they do
they can communicate much like they do
they can communicate much like they do in our bodies these engineered systems
in our bodies these engineered systems
in our bodies these engineered systems can replace animal models but they’re
can replace animal models but they’re
can replace animal models but they’re still models and so it’ll still be
still models and so it’ll still be
still models and so it’ll still be necessary to critically analyze the
necessary to critically analyze the
necessary to critically analyze the results and then translate them to the
results and then translate them to the
results and then translate them to the human context just like animal models
human context just like animal models
human context just like animal models will have to accept the risks and
will have to accept the risks and
will have to accept the risks and limitations associated with them the
limitations associated with them the
limitations associated with them the difference is that these engineered
difference is that these engineered
difference is that these engineered models can be continuously improved and
models can be continuously improved and
models can be continuously improved and optimized for example by using heat
optimized for example by using heat
optimized for example by using heat cells from a patient in order to predict
cells from a patient in order to predict
cells from a patient in order to predict his or her personalized response to a
his or her personalized response to a
his or her personalized response to a therapy on the other hand the biology of
therapy on the other hand the biology of
therapy on the other hand the biology of a mouse is fixed and unchangeable you
a mouse is fixed and unchangeable you
a mouse is fixed and unchangeable you might ask then do we still need animal
might ask then do we still need animal
might ask then do we still need animal models today in many areas of research
models today in many areas of research
models today in many areas of research like toxicology when we need to evaluate
like toxicology when we need to evaluate
like toxicology when we need to evaluate the toxic or harmful effects of a
the toxic or harmful effects of a
the toxic or harmful effects of a substance according to the amount were
substance according to the amount were
substance according to the amount were exposed to probably not most toxicity
exposed to probably not most toxicity
exposed to probably not most toxicity experiments in animals are already
experiments in animals are already
experiments in animals are already accompanied by in vitro tests because
accompanied by in vitro tests because
accompanied by in vitro tests because they help reduce the number of animals
they help reduce the number of animals
they help reduce the number of animals used we now know that cell cultures are
used we now know that cell cultures are
used we now know that cell cultures are simpler and more precise for evaluating
simpler and more precise for evaluating
simpler and more precise for evaluating the cancerous or Geno toxic effects of a
the cancerous or Geno toxic effects of a
the cancerous or Geno toxic effects of a chemical compound than animals that’s
chemical compound than animals that’s
chemical compound than animals that’s because the biological mechanisms of
because the biological mechanisms of
because the biological mechanisms of genotoxicity can be in our analyzed
genotoxicity can be in our analyzed
genotoxicity can be in our analyzed step by step first in single cells and
step by step first in single cells and
step by step first in single cells and then in groups of cells but we do still
then in groups of cells but we do still
then in groups of cells but we do still need animals to study some of the more
need animals to study some of the more
need animals to study some of the more complex organs and systems like the
complex organs and systems like the
complex organs and systems like the immune system the endocrine system and
immune system the endocrine system and
immune system the endocrine system and high-level brain function today
high-level brain function today
high-level brain function today it would be impossible to evaluate how a
it would be impossible to evaluate how a
it would be impossible to evaluate how a vascular prosthesis made out of a new
vascular prosthesis made out of a new
vascular prosthesis made out of a new biomaterial will be integrated into the
biomaterial will be integrated into the
biomaterial will be integrated into the body but using the tools and
body but using the tools and
body but using the tools and technologies that we have today
technologies that we have today
technologies that we have today developing them further on we will soon
developing them further on we will soon
developing them further on we will soon be able to model biomaterial integral
be able to model biomaterial integral
be able to model biomaterial integral interaction in a mini organ in the lab
interaction in a mini organ in the lab
interaction in a mini organ in the lab and combine it with a computational
and combine it with a computational
and combine it with a computational model of blood flow in human arteries
model of blood flow in human arteries
model of blood flow in human arteries using this type of combined technology
using this type of combined technology
using this type of combined technology it’s highly likely that in the next few
it’s highly likely that in the next few
it’s highly likely that in the next few years we’ll be able to model the by
years we’ll be able to model the by
years we’ll be able to model the by integration of a new implant with even
integration of a new implant with even
integration of a new implant with even greater precision than we currently do
greater precision than we currently do
greater precision than we currently do in dogs and sheep so based on past
in dogs and sheep so based on past
in dogs and sheep so based on past evidence it’s unreasonable to sustain
evidence it’s unreasonable to sustain
evidence it’s unreasonable to sustain that animal experiments have served no
that animal experiments have served no
that animal experiments have served no purpose but it’s also irrational to
purpose but it’s also irrational to
purpose but it’s also irrational to maintain that we have no better way of
maintain that we have no better way of
maintain that we have no better way of modeling human body armed with the
modeling human body armed with the
modeling human body armed with the technology we have today just like we’ve
technology we have today just like we’ve
technology we have today just like we’ve changed our navigation tools it’s time
changed our navigation tools it’s time
changed our navigation tools it’s time to change the tools of Experimental
to change the tools of Experimental
to change the tools of Experimental Biology not for one ideology or another
Biology not for one ideology or another
Biology not for one ideology or another but for the benefit of humanity animals
but for the benefit of humanity animals
but for the benefit of humanity animals and scientific knowledge thank you
and scientific knowledge thank you
and scientific knowledge thank you [Applause]
”
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