The Journal of Neuroscience, September 16, 2009 • 29(37):11419–11420 • 11419

Commentary Terrorists: What Every Neuroscientist Should Know

Jeffrey H. Kordower Chairman, Committee for Use of Animals in Research, Society for Neuroscience Department of Neurological Sciences and Research Center for Brain Repair, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612

Introduction can be traced to the publication of Animal research using great apes (which, inciden- The disgraceful, illegal, and immoral tac- Liberation in 1975 by Philosophy Profes- tally, is the only genus that can be effec- tics used by animal rights activists to for- sor . Singer is now viewed as tively used to model human hepatitis C ward their agenda have led to the federal the father of the modern animal rights infection). These are just a few of the nu- government labeling them as domestic movement. In 1981, Alex Pacheco and merous activities of these groups over the terrorists, a very well deserved categorical formed People for the past three decades. name. The types of terrorism engendered Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in So, with their widespread and danger- by these groups are varied, but most re- Washington, DC. These two events cata- ous activities, why has our membership cently their most violent and troublesome pulted animal rights activism into the been relatively silent on this matter? It is acts have occurred at the homes of neuro- popular public mindset. While their mis- difficult to say, but one theory is that these scientists. Drs. Ringach and Jentsch have guided message about the responsible use activities have been predominantly di- detailed many of these terrorist attacks in of animals in research was heard, their rected against researchers using nonhu- their accompanying commentary, and I methods of operation received less atten- man primates and companion animals, will not review them here. However, do tion. They fully support the burning the small minority of SfN members. The not let the preponderance of violent ani- down of laboratories. Indeed, Newkirk majority of members perform research on mal rights activity occurring in California has been quoted as saying so on numerous rodents, and they might conclude that this mislead you into thinking that Society for occasions (see http://www.activistcash. is “not my problem.” Wrong! The violent Neuroscience (SfN) members in other com/biography_quotes.cfm/bid/456). The activities of these animal rights activists states are immune to the situation. These Front (ALF) sets fire to are no longer exclusive to researchers that violent acts occur across the country, with mink farms at Oregon State and Michigan work with unusual species: a number of researchers in Utah, Connecticut, Oregon, State Universities. Other groups, such as researchers who work with rodents have as well as numerous other locales having Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) recently been targeted and attacked with reported violent attacks at their homes, attacked the the same violence and vigor as their col- often in the presence of children. Let us and its shareholders. The company and its leagues. Now, everyone is at risk and a also be clear about the individuals whom shareholders were completely unaware of strong outcry by our membership is they are attacking. These scientists have the reason they were attacked (they pro- needed. not just been performing research on an- vided loans for companies performing an- So, what should researchers and SfN imals: all have been performing responsi- ble research on animals, using procedures imal research), and the company nearly members do? The first part is easy. Go to that have been approved by the National collapsed financially. In 2000, ALF stole http://www.ucla-pro-test.org/. This is a Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Insti- dozens of research animals from laborato- website created by University of Califor- tutional Animal Care and Use Commit- ries at the University of Minnesota, and in nia, Los Angeles (UCLA) faculty in a stand tees (IACUC) of their universities. 2004, they broke into University of Iowa against the animal rights terrorists. Sign While these activists’ strategy of terror- laboratories, causing hundreds of thou- the petition at www.raisingvoices.net, izing investigators and their families at sands of dollars in damages. These and take a stand against these violent crimi- their homes may be relatively new, these other groups also disrupt science by using nals, and take a stand for the responsible actions and their intent to terrorize are legal, but harassing, methods such as a use of animals in research. Second, down- not. The origin of animal rights activism continuous flurry of Freedom of Informa- load the Best Practices document from the tion Act (FOIA) requests and IACUC mis- SfN website. This is a document that has conduct claims, most of which have been created and vetted by the Committee Received Aug. 3, 2009; accepted Aug. 5, 2009. been found to be completely baseless af- for the Use of Animals in Research (CAR) Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Jeffrey H. Kordower, Depart- ter costly investigation. Other efforts in- at SfN, a committee I am honored to mentofNeurologicalSciences,RushUniversityMedicalCenter,1735WestHar- clude legal maneuvers to grant animals chair. This document is based upon the rison Street, Chicago, IL 60612. E-mail: [email protected]. DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3764-09.2009 “personage,” or legal rights equal to hu- UCLA Task Force document that was cre- Copyright©2009SocietyforNeuroscience 0270-6474/09/2911419-02$15.00/0 mans, and combating even noninvasive ated following a series of violent attacks 11420 • J. Neurosci., September 16, 2009 • 29(37):11419–11420 Kordower • Commentary on their faculty. While the University of with affected researchers. It should ensure that we educate the public on the appro- California system might be properly criti- that these personnel are on call at all times priateness of responsible research using cized for initially moving slowly on this and have the ability to easily communi- animals, and on the health benefits they front, they have become welcome leaders cate with top administration officials. have provided both humans and nonhu- and champions for their embattled fac- The university should develop a plan mans. Talking points for these concepts ulty, and all SfN members should be with local law enforcement. The univer- can be found at the SfN website. grateful for their generosity in sharing sity should develop a formal process for Finally, I and many of my colleagues their taskforce findings with us. The doc- responding to threats against personal have been greatly disappointed by the fail- ument is meant for any researcher to take and physical safety. ure of NIH to take a stronger stand against to their university leadership to serve as a The university should establish an or- animal rights terrorists. Articles have been plan for protecting researchers under at- ganizational structure that anticipates and written by high-ranking NIH officials tack. It should be presented before any forestalls threats to a researcher. The uni- condemning their activities; e.g., http:// attack or threat of attack occurs. This versity should establish or strengthen se- www.nih.gov/about/director/02082008_ document is not specific for animal rights curity protocols. The university should issues and would prove valuable for re- ensure regular and effective communica- statement_UCLAresearcher.htm. That is searchers under attack for any reason tions between security personnel and good. However, it remains hard to imag- (e.g., use of human fetal tissue or human community law enforcement to avoid ine how words alone will have any mate- embryonic stem cells in research). The gaps in protection. rial impact on the behavior of these document is divided into three parts and a criminals. The leadership of SfN, includ- summary of its concepts are detailed Part 3: Communication and advocacy ing CAR members like myself, have solic- below: The university should actively pursue the ited NIH to mandate that all custodians of introduction and passage of federal, state, their research funds (i.e., virtually all uni- Part 1: Leadership and administration and local legislation and regulations that versities and other institutions perform- University leaders should provide regular, would protect research. They should urge ing research) have a protection plan in explicit public affirmation from the insti- lawmakers to ensure consistency of pro- place for their researchers. Common tutional leadership in support of aca- tective coverage across jurisdictions. They sense would seem to dictate that if NIH demic freedom and state the institutional should proactively build relationships with can mandate the existence of IACUC, In- commitment to ensuring the protection reporters to convey accurate information stitutional Review Board (IRB), and other of those individuals exercising it. In cases about responsible research, as well as spe- oversight committees to protect animals in which researchers are under attack, the cific research being conducted at the facility, and clinical trial patients before receiving university should pursue legal measures, and they should regularly examine student- NIH funding, a similar requirement can public declarations, statements of sup- university organizations, in keeping with be instituted for the protection of the in- port, and provisions of accurate informa- standards of protected activity. dividuals performing the research. The tion to the public and other forms of I have taken this document to my ad- Best Practices document described above sustaining moral and psychological sup- ministration, it was well received, and it can serve as a template for such a plan. This port. When illegal activities occur, univer- has been adopted. I and my colleagues are request has fallen on deaf ears. Hopefully, sity leadership should publicly support safer because of it. and encourage prosecution to the fullest The CAR committee at SfN as well as with the appointment of a new director of extent of the law. Additionally, the univer- the National Association for Biomedical NIH, we will be able to readdress this issue in sity should request formal support from Research (NABR) are also important re- the near future with greater success. the academic senate or equivalent body. sources for individuals who are under at- In summary, as individual scientists I tack. Indeed, the CAR committee should urge you to be proactive, be concerned, and Part 2: Security be informed of all animal rights activist be a loud voice for the responsible use of The university should assign staff to mon- attacks, and the committee Chair and the animals in research and be completely intol- itor security efforts, deploy campus re- SfN staff will provide as much assistance erant of criminals’ intent on preventing the sources as necessary, and communicate as possible. Additionally, it is imperative honest performance of our important work.