Stop Oxford Primate Centre: to the Vivisectors

Part 1: Stop Oxford Primate Centre: To The Vivisectors

FULL CONTACT INFORMATION FOR OXFORD FACULTY University of Oxford, Department of Experimental Psychology South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3UD ph: +44 (0)1865 271444; fax: +44 (0)1865 310447 general email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Professor Oliver J. Braddick, Head of Department of Experimental Psychology ph: 01865 271 355 & 271356 / 020 7679 7558 email: [email protected], [email protected]

D. Alan Allport, Emeritus Professor of Experimental Psychology ph: 01865 271367; email: [email protected], [email protected]

Dr. Paul J. Azzopardi ph: 01865 271415; email: [email protected]

Professor Dorothy Bishop, Developmental Neuropsychology ph: 01865 271369; fax: 01865 281255; email: [email protected]

Peter E. Bryant, FRS, Watts Professor of Psychology ph: 01865 271377 / 271379; email: [email protected], [email protected]

Dr. Mark J Buckley (experiments on primates) ph: 01865 271413; email: [email protected]

Gordon Claridge, Emeritus Professor of Abnormal Psychology ph: 01865 271316; email: [email protected], [email protected]

Dr. Ann D Dowker ph: 01865 271407; email: [email protected], [email protected]

Dr. David Gaffan (experiments on primates) ph: 01865 271349; email: [email protected]

Dr. G Bruce Henning ph: 01865 271320 / 271735 email: [email protected], [email protected]

Miles R C Hewstone, FBA, Professor of Social Psychology ph: 01865 271317 / 279544 email: [email protected], [email protected] Professor Susan D. Iversen, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University ph: 01865 280199 (central admin); ph: 01865 271392 (experimental psychology) email: [email protected], [email protected]

Dr. Mansur G. Lalljee ph: 01865 271335 / 279756; email: [email protected], [email protected]

Mary Martin, Professor of Abnormal Psychology ph: 01865 271313 / 279018; email: [email protected]

Dr. Peter D. McLeod ph: 01865 271389 / 279156; email: [email protected], [email protected]

Dr. Jane H. V. Mellanby ph: 01865 271422 / 276811 email: [email protected], [email protected]

Dr. Susanna Millar; email: [email protected]

Dr. Kate Nation ph: 01865 271366 / 277342; email: [email protected], [email protected]

Dr. Anna C. de O Nobre ph: 01865 271388 / 271970; email: [email protected], [email protected]

Dr. Katherine R. "Kathy" Parkes ph: 01865 271401; email: [email protected]

Dr. Brian Parkinson ph: 01865 276224 / 271423 email: [email protected], [email protected]

Richard E "Dick" Passingham, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience (Twice winner of an Animal Aid Mad Science award, 2001 & 1997; primate experimenter) ph: 01865 271418; email: [email protected], [email protected]

Kim R Plunkett, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience ph: 01865 271398 & 01865 274961 email: [email protected], [email protected]

Dr. David A. Popplewell ph: 01865 271406 (direct) & 01865 271410 (messages) email: [email protected], [email protected]

Nicholas J. P. Rawlins, Professor of Behavioural Neuroscience ph: 01865 271424 / 276657; email: [email protected], [email protected]

Brian J. Rogers, Professor of Experimental Psychology ph: 01865 271309 / 271368; email: [email protected], [email protected]

Edmunds T. Rolls, Professor of Experimental Psychology (primate experimenter) ph: 01865 271348 / 276751; email: [email protected], [email protected] Dr. Matthew F. S. Rushworth (experiments on rats & primates) ph: 01865 271308; email: [email protected]

Dr. Charles J. Spence ph: 01865 271364; email: [email protected], [email protected]

Dr. Vincent Walsh ph: 01865 271326; email: [email protected], [email protected]

Larry Weiskrantz, FRS, Emeritus Professor of Psychology ph: 01865 271362; email: [email protected], [email protected] Dear Sir/Madam:

I write to express my concern about Oxford University’s new laboratory on South Parks Road. Although the project has been misleadingly described as a “research hotel,” its two-phase construction includes a covered walkway linking the centre to the Department of Experimental Psychology—a department noted for its redundant brain damage studies in primates who suffer seizures, vomiting, diarrhea and spasms over months or years.

Oxford will allegedly undertake some of the brain experiments slated for Cambridge University’s canceled primate laboratory. In response to a public inquiry, Cambridge failed to establish any scientific legitimacy behind these experiments. Yet Oxford plans to carry out the same futile studies in its ongoing attempt to dignify the outmoded animal-test model.

In a survey of 500 doctors published in the European and British Medical Journal, 9 out of 10 admit animal experiments are deceptive. Evidence suggests far too many physiological, cellular, genetic and psychological variations between species for reliable extrapolation to humans.

Non-animal modalities, on the other hand, are typically two to three times more accurate than non-predictive animal tests. Many research facilities now fulfill study criterion with in vitro analysis, cell imaging, epidemiology, computer simulators, videos and mathematical modeling, genetic and protein analysis, clinical research, human brain mapping technologies, autopsy/biopsy studies, advanced MRI imaging, and other sophisticated alternatives.

If Oxford wants to secure its status at the forefront of medical research, it ought to heed the advice of renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall, who urges science “to direct its collectively awesome intellect into different pathways in its search to alleviate human suffering.”

Goodall has shown that primates form complex social unions and experience a full range of emotions. Oxford’s experimental psychologists draft these sentient creatures into lives of solitude and pain inside sterile biocontainment facilities. Rhesus macaque monkeys such as the “Oxford Two” have endured artificially induced brain damage and endless testing for 15 years.

In one study utilizing at least 20 monkeys, researchers extracted the visual cortex from the brains of three macaques who died before a battery of visual tasks could be completed. Over nine years, researchers merely confirmed known data about visual disability in surgically maimed monkeys, namely that it derives from a variation in cell counts in different sections of the brain.

These duplicative experiments have done little to aid human head-trauma victims. In fact, they may have stalled the discovery of knowledge that could lead to potential remedies for people.

I respectfully ask Oxford’s faculty to evolve with the most proficient and humane research technologies available to modern science. Please either halt this misguided animal research expansion, or proceed with the expansion—minus the animal component.

Thank you, Part 2: Stop Oxford Primate Centre: To The Fundraisers

FULL CONTACT INFORMATION FOR OUS MEMBERS BERKSHIRE Pat Rooney—9 Illingworth, St Leonard's Hill, Windsor SL4 4UP ph:(01753) 864 037; email: [email protected]

BRISTOL, BATH and WELLS Peter Brown—90 Berkeley Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8HG ph: (0117) 9407560; email: [email protected]

CAMBRIDGE Judith Sylph—18 Montague Road, Cambridge, CB4 1BX; email: [email protected]

CARDIFF and SE WALES David Lermon—ph: (029) 2050 4596; email: [email protected] CHESHIRE and NE WALES Robert Mais—ph (home): 01606 76534; email: [email protected]

CORNWALL Catherine Lorigan—ph (home): 0118 948 3307; email: [email protected]

CUMBERLAND Bryan Rothwell—ph: 01768 779714; email: [email protected]

DEVON Patrick Clancy—ph: (01647) 433554; email: [email protected]

DORSET Shelagh Hill—ph: (01935) 812042; email: [email protected]

ESSEX Gavin Brown—23 Burlescoombe Rd, Thorpe Bay, Southend-on-sea, Essex SS1 3QC ph: (01702)588423

GLASGOW and W SCOTLAND Amy Cole—3 Princes Gardens, Glasgow G12 9HP; ph:(0141) 334 6270 email: [email protected]

GLOUCESTERSHIRE John Vivian—29 Coberley Rd, Benshall, Cheltenham GL51 6DF

HAMPSHIRE John Whitworth—5 Beaumond Green, Winchester, SO23 8GF; ph: (01962) 849446 fax: (01962) 840620; email: [email protected]

HEREFORDSHIRE, BRECON and RADNOR John Wood—ph/fax: (01432) 850543; email: [email protected]

HERTFORDSHIRE Caroline Whately-Smith—ph/fax:(01923) 268381; email: [email protected]

INVERNESS Mr. RA Campbell—Pollanaich, Drumbeg IV27 4NN; ph: 01571 833292

ISLE OF MAN Colin Youde—ph (office): (01624) 648200, (home): (01624) 832976 email: [email protected]

KENT-EAST Talbot Penner—ph: (01304) 617659; fax:(01304) 615251 email: [email protected]

KENT-WEST John Gelling—ph: (01732) 351590; fax:(01732) 358068; email: [email protected]

LANCASHIRE-Manchester Peter Taylor—7 Radnormere Drive, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle, Cheshire, SK8 5JX ph: (0161)485 4235 LEICESTERSHIRE and RUTLAND Peter West—ph: (01530) 0116 2674867

LINCOLNSHIRE Gary Phillips—ph: (01522) 529912; office fax: (01522) 510463; email: [email protected]

LONDON Cheryl-Lisa Hearne—ph: 07976 706152; email: [email protected]

NORFOLK John Mainstone—ph: (01362) 688722; fax: (01362) 688677; email: [email protected]

NORTHAMPTON Sara Whitley-Kinzett—ph: (01858) 434476; email: [email protected]

NORTH EAST ENGLAND Hume Hargreave—ph: (0191) 2799234; fax:(0191) 2799100 email: [email protected]

NOTTINGHAM Hubert Gale—9 Sandringham Dr, Bramcote NG9 3EA; ph: (0115) 9251721

OXFORDSHIRE Mike Brown—Norham House, 1 Norham Garden, Oxford OX2 6PS email: [email protected]

SHROPSHIRE Malcolm Mitchell—Southfield, 30 Kennedy Rd, Shrewsbury SY3 7AB ph (office): (01743) 351332; fax (office): (01743) 248353

SOMERSET Donald Clark—Northfield House, Barton St David, Somerton TA11 6BJ ph: (01458) 223203

STAFFORDSHIRE Paul Dougan—ph: (01782) 583218; email: [email protected]

SUFFOLK Sheila Harrison—email: [email protected]

SURREY- North Area Peter Morley—Greystones, Cavendish Road, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0JX ph: (01932 846360); email: [email protected]

SURREY- South Area Co Secretary - Michael Hill—ph: (020) 8642 2418; email: [email protected]

SURREY- South Area Co Secretary - John Coleman—ph: (01737) 763347; email: [email protected]

SUSSEX- West Claire Fever—Blackman House, Canon Lane, Chichester, PO19 1PX ph: (01243) 530313 TAYSIDE- St Andrew's & Dundee George O'Brien—6 Park Place, Dunfermline, KY12 7QT; ph: (01722) 722752

WARWICKSHIRE Tom Kenny—ph: 0797 3838517; email: [email protected]

WESSEX-Bournemouth, E Dorset, N and S Wiltshire Mr. PJ Webb—42 Victoria Rd, Wilton, Nr Salisbury SP2 0DY; ph: (01722) 743440

WESTMORLAND Peter Hickson—ph: (01539) 533422; fax:(01539) 533882 email: [email protected]

YORKSHIRE-Leeds & Bradford Geoffrey Caseley—ph: (0113) 2781844; email: [email protected]

YORKSHIRE-York Peter Rodgers—ph: (01609) 881301; email: [email protected] Dear Sir/Madam:

As a member of the Oxford University Society (OUS), you play a key role in the University’s continuing growth and achievement. I respectfully ask you to persuade Oxford to terminate plans to expand animal research with the completion of a new laboratory on South Parks Road.

Although the project has been misleadingly described as a “research hotel,” its two-phase construction includes a covered walkway linking the centre to the Department of Experimental Psychology—a department noted for its redundant brain damage studies in primates who suffer seizures, vomiting, diarrhea and spasms over months or years.

Please either withdraw your support for the University while it pursues this misguided venture or encourage those involved to proceed with the research expansion minus the animal component.

Many research facilities now fulfill study criterion with in vitro analysis, cell imaging, epidemiology, computer simulators, videos and mathematical modeling, genetic and protein analysis, clinical research, human brain mapping technologies, autopsy/biopsy studies, advanced MRI imaging, and other sophisticated alternatives.

These duplicative experiments have done little to aid human head-trauma victims. In fact, they may have stalled the discovery of knowledge that could lead to potential remedies for people. Please help convince Oxford University to evolve with the most proficient and humane research technologies available to modern science.

Thank you,