How the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the necessity of animal research.
Lisa Genzel,
Roger Adan,
Anton Berns,
Jeroen J J P van den Beucken,
Arjan Blokland,
Erik H W G M Boddeke,
Willy M Bogers,
Ronald Bontrop,
R Bulthuis,
Teun Bousema,
Hans Clevers,
Tineke C J J Coenen,
Anne-Marie van Dam,
Peter M T Deen,
K W van Dijk,
Bart J L Eggen,
Ype Elgersma,
Izel Erdogan,
Bernhard Englitz,
J Martje Fentener van Vlissingen,
Susanne la Fleur,
Ron Fouchier,
Carlos P Fitzsimons,
Wilbert Frieling,
Bart Haagmans,
Balthasar A Heesters,
Marloes J A G Henckens,
Sander Herfst,
Elly Hol,
Daniel van den Hove,
Marien I de Jonge,
Jos Jonkers,
Leo A B Joosten,
Andries Kalsbeek,
Maarten Kamermans,
Harm H Kampinga,
Martien J Kas,
J Aap Keijer,
Sander Kersten,
Amanda J Kiliaan,
Taco W A Kooij,
Sander Kooijman,
Werner J H Koopman,
Aniko Korosi,
Harm J Krugers,
Thijs Kuiken,
Steven A Kushner,
Jan A M Langermans,
Heidi M B Lesscher,
Paul J Lucassen,
Esther Lutgens,
Mihai G Netea,
Lucas P J J Noldus,
Jos W M van der Meer,
Frank J Meye,
Joram D Mul,
Kees van Oers,
Jocelien D A Olivier,
R Jeroen Pasterkamp,
Ingrid H C H M Philippens,
Jos Prickaerts,
B J A Pollux,
Patrick C N Rensen,
Jacco van Rheenen,
Ronald P van Rij,
Laila Ritsma,
Barry H G Rockx,
Benno Roozendaal,
Evert M van Schothorst,
K Stittelaar,
Norbert Stockhofe,
Dick F Swaab,
Rik L de Swart,
Louk J M J Vanderschuren,
Taco J de Vries,
Femke de Vrij,
Richard van Wezel,
Corette J Wierenga,
Maximilian Wiesmann,
Ingo Willuhn,
Chris I de Zeeuw,
Judith R Homberg
Abstract
Recently, a petition was offered to the European Commission calling for an immediate ban on animal testing. Although a Europe-wide moratorium on the use of animals in science is not yet possible, there has been a push by the non-scientific community and politicians for a rapid transition to animal-free innovations. Although there are benefits for both animal welfare and researchers, advances on alternative methods have not progressed enough to be able to replace animal research in the foreseeable future. This trend has led first and foremost to a substantial increase in the administrative burden and hurdles required to make timely advances in research and treatments for human and animal diseases. The current COVID-19 pandemic clearly highlights how much we actually rely on animal research. COVID-19 affects several organs and systems, and the various animal-free alternatives currently available do not come close to this complexity. In this Essay, we therefore argue that the use of animals is essential for the advancement of human and veterinary health.