Benefits of Biomedical Research
How Have You Benefited from Biomedical Research?Nearly every medicine, medical device, surgical procedure and therapy we have today has depended on animal testing and research. Animal research is one of the first steps in medical discovery.
Animal studies have provided the scientific knowledge that allows physicians and other health care providers to improve lives for people and animals by preventing and treating diseases and disorders and by easing pain and suffering. Knowledge gained from animal research has contributed to a dramatically extended human life span, which has increased from 47 years in 1900 to 78.8 years today. Part of this increase can be attributed to improved sanitation and better hygiene, but a significant portion of this longevity is a result of medical advances made possible in part from animal research.
Watch the video below to hear from some of the country’s leading scientists and medical experts who talk about why animal testing and research is critical for medical progress and the advancement of both human and animal health.
What is Animal Research?
Animal research is the study of animals for scientific and medical discovery. Research animals, also called lab animals, are bred specifically for research. Studying lab animals gives researchers important insights into how a disease works in the body. Once they understand how a disease works, they can begin to develop and test treatments with the help of animals.
What is Animal Testing?
Animal testing is essential for understanding the safety and proper dosages of new medicines and treatments. If researchers find that a drug is safe and effective through animal testing, they can begin testing it in small groups of people and then larger groups of people. Both extensive human and animal testing is required by law before a drug can be approved.
Why is it necessary?
Nearly every medicine, medical device, surgical procedure or therapy we have today has depended on animal testing and research. It’s one of the first steps in medical discovery. To understand how a disease works in the body, scientists study the disease in animals. Animal research gives them the knowledge they need to discover and create treatments to help both people and animals living with illnesses.