Research Defence Society
Encyclopedia
The Research Defence Society was a British
lobby group. At the end of 2008 the Research Defence Society merged with another UK organisation - the Coalition for Medical Progress to form Understanding Animal Research .
The Research Defence Society's aim was to disseminate information about, and to defend the use of, animal testing
in medicine. It represented the interests of 5,000 researchers and institutions. It was reportedly funded by the pharmaceutical industry
and universities. The organization states it is funded by its members, which includes medical scientists, doctors and veterinarians, as well as pharmaceutical companies, research institutes, universities and charities that support medical research. The Times writes that the RDS is "funded by the pharmaceutical industry and universities".
Its last executive director was Dr. Simon Festing
who has gone on to be the CEO of Understanding Animal Research .
One campaign to demonstrate the support for animal research within the scientific and medical community, was the co-signing of a petition in support of the use of animals in research called Declaration on Animals in Medical Research. The original declaration occurred in 1990, its second variant in 2005. Over 500 British, and 200 non-British, scientists signed the declaration in the first month, including 3 Nobel laureates, 190 Fellows of the Royal Society and the Medical Royal Colleges and over 250 academic Professors.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
lobby group. At the end of 2008 the Research Defence Society merged with another UK organisation - the Coalition for Medical Progress to form Understanding Animal Research .
The Research Defence Society's aim was to disseminate information about, and to defend the use of, animal testing
Animal testing
Animal testing, also known as animal experimentation, animal research, and in vivo testing, is the use of non-human animals in experiments. Worldwide it is estimated that the number of vertebrate animals—from zebrafish to non-human primates—ranges from the tens of millions to more than 100 million...
in medicine. It represented the interests of 5,000 researchers and institutions. It was reportedly funded by the pharmaceutical industry
Pharmaceutical company
The pharmaceutical industry develops, produces, and markets drugs licensed for use as medications. Pharmaceutical companies are allowed to deal in generic and/or brand medications and medical devices...
and universities. The organization states it is funded by its members, which includes medical scientists, doctors and veterinarians, as well as pharmaceutical companies, research institutes, universities and charities that support medical research. The Times writes that the RDS is "funded by the pharmaceutical industry and universities".
Its last executive director was Dr. Simon Festing
Simon Festing
Simon Festing is chief executive of the Society for General Microbiology.-Education:Festing graduated in 1987 as a Bachelor of Medicine from the London Hospital Medical College...
who has gone on to be the CEO of Understanding Animal Research .
One campaign to demonstrate the support for animal research within the scientific and medical community, was the co-signing of a petition in support of the use of animals in research called Declaration on Animals in Medical Research. The original declaration occurred in 1990, its second variant in 2005. Over 500 British, and 200 non-British, scientists signed the declaration in the first month, including 3 Nobel laureates, 190 Fellows of the Royal Society and the Medical Royal Colleges and over 250 academic Professors.