Media Release Stop UBC Animal Research 

Humane Research Organization Raises Concerns Over UBC’S 2014 Animal Use Statistics

ADAV Society

For Immediate Release:                                                        
December 9, 2015

Vancouver, BC – Last week, the University of British Columbia (UBC) released statistics on its animal use in 2014, including an estimate of the total number of animals subjected to research and teaching protocols.

Stop UBC Animal Research is concerned that, while the estimated 182,115 animals used is lower than in 2013, data gathered over the past five years shows that the numbers fluctuate annually without a significant trend towards a reduction, as UBC should be committed to under the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) guidelines. In addition, even with a reduction in animals used in comparison to 2013, more than 180,000 sentient beings continue to be subjected to the most stressful and painful experiments and procedures, with 57% used for basic, curiosity-driven research with no practical application.

The number of animals subjected to experiments provided by UBC is also a gross underestimation of the actual number of animals involved. According to the CCAC guidelines, many animals are not counted – for example, animals that are not killed for a specific protocol, animals held in breeding colonies, animals killed as a result of commercial practices or those used as sentinel animals.

UBC also reports that in 2014, 27 animals were subjected to Category E experiments and that 79,391 animals were subjected to Category D experiments. These categories represent the greatest levels of pain and distress (Category D = moderate to severe distress; Category E = severe pain near, at, or above the pain tolerance threshold of unanesthetized conscious animals). Researchers who use animals have been shown to routinely underestimate the pain and suffering of animals and therefore many more animals were likely subjected to these categories than reported. In addition, category D studies at UBC saw an increase over the 2013 stats, something completely contrary to the principles of the CCAC and UBC’s own commitment. Could the fact that all 10 members of the UBC Peer Review Subcommittee are UBC scientists themselves have biased their decisions?

“UBC continues to fail both animals and humans.” stated Laura-Leah Shaw, Director of Stop UBC Animal Research. “UBC needs to show what it is doing to ensure modern, evidence-based medicine is adopted, rather than clinging to outdated 19th century science relying on the inferior animal model.”

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

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According to the UBC student newspaper, the UBYSSEY, the University of British Columbia (UBC) is one of the largest bio-medical campuses in Canada. Each year, UBC’s Animal Care Center distributes some 100,000 animals, including cats, pigs, mice, rabbits, rats, non-human primates, and other animals to dozens of UBC-affiliated research projects. UBC maintains over thirty animal care facilities across its campus and throughout the rest of Vancouver. The Canadian Council on Animal Care’s most recent data shows the numbers of animals used in “science” in Canada have risen steadily, with nearly 2.3 million animals in 2008, up from less than 1.8 million in 1998. As the home of a rapidly expanding industry of animal experimentation, UBC is at the forefront of this trend. Stop UBC Animal Research has discovered that UBC researchers are conducting highly invasive experiments on animals. ALERT: Urge the University of British Columbia (UBC) to disclose information about its research on animals.

ADAV Society Comments Off on According to the UBC student newspaper, the UBYSSEY, the University of British Columbia (UBC) is one of the largest bio-medical campuses in Canada. Each year, UBC’s Animal Care Center distributes some 100,000 animals, including cats, pigs, mice, rabbits, rats, non-human primates, and other animals to dozens of UBC-affiliated research projects. UBC maintains over thirty animal care facilities across its campus and throughout the rest of Vancouver. The Canadian Council on Animal Care’s most recent data shows the numbers of animals used in “science” in Canada have risen steadily, with nearly 2.3 million animals in 2008, up from less than 1.8 million in 1998. As the home of a rapidly expanding industry of animal experimentation, UBC is at the forefront of this trend. Stop UBC Animal Research has discovered that UBC researchers are conducting highly invasive experiments on animals. ALERT: Urge the University of British Columbia (UBC) to disclose information about its research on animals.

STOP’s information request to UBC denied

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