SIR: Unfortunately, I did not see Ray Brooker's attack on animal research (Viewpoint, September 25) and I was confused by Brian Derbyshire's reply (October 16). Perhaps it would be helpful to outline the mainstream medical and scientific view.

A British Medical Association survey showed that 19 out of 20 doctors agree that animal research is important to medical progress. Look no further than Nobel Prizes for medicine: two thirds of those awarded this century have been for developments which depended on animals. These include insulin for diabetes, antibiotics, vaccines, transplantation, ECG and CAT scanning, as well as basic understanding of the nervous system, immune system, vitamins and hormones.

The 1996 Nobel Prize, just announced, was for discovering how the immune system recognises virus-infected cells. This work, which depended on studies using mice, gives hope for better treatments for diabetes, arthritis, multiple scelerosis, AIDS and cancer.

While animal research is still vital, a great deal of scientific effort has led to a halving of numbers of animals used since 1976. We all welcome this, and we must make sure that the animals which are still needed are treated humanely and carefully.

Barbara Davies

Deputy Director

Understanding Animal Research in Medicine

58 Great Marlborough Street

London W1V 1DD

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