For Immediate Release:                                                       
Sunday August 09, 2015

Vancouver, BC – Dr. Arvind Gupta, after holding the position of President at the University of British Columbia (UBC) for barely more than a year, has announced his resignation. Former president Martha Piper is stepping in to fill the position until a new replacement is found.

The departure of Dr. Gupta is raising concerns for Stop UBC Animal Research. The group, which works to bring an end to invasive animal research at UBC, had built a positive relationship with the new President and expected to see progress towards a more humane science under the leadership of Dr. Gupta.

Stop UBC Animal Research is deeply saddened by the news that Dr. Gupta is stepping down as UBC President. “President Gupta was an innovator. We can only hope that the spirit of cooperation and reform that were the hallmark of his term in office will continue under Dr. Piper and the ensuing new President”, stated Laura-Leah Shaw, Director of Stop UBC Animal Research. “The animals in UBC laboratories deserve no less than continued efforts towards progressive, non-animal research and education.”

To learn more about the Stop UBC Animal Research campaign, visit:  http://stopubcanimalresearch.org

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Contact: Laura-Leah Shaw: 604-551-9297