A MALVERN activist is calling on a research institute in Ledbury and her local MP to help force change in the world of animal research.
Helen Taylor, of Malvern Link, has called on Sequani to adopt "new innovative and human relational science" instead of testing on animals.
She also called on Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, to build on the momentum that was sparked by the Commercial Breeding for Laboratories debate which was heard at parliament on Monday.
Ms Taylor said: "I would love it if Sequani were to embrace new innovative and human relational science or at least make a commitment to opening its doors.
“I would like for Sequani to ask for more inspections. To date, there are only 23 Inspectors to keep an eye on over three million scientific procedures.
"I'm calling on my MP to double up her efforts to see that this debate returns. If we can't get through this door, can we get through the Animal Sentience Committee?
"We need a minister. We need change."
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Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, was unable to attend the debate but said that the use of animals in science supports the development of new medicines".
She said: “I am grateful for my constituent reminding us all of this debate but unfortunately I had other Parliamentary commitments at that time.
“It is important to remember that the use of animals in science supports the development of new medicines and the safety of our environment, for the benefit of humans and animals, and is only permitted when there are no alternatives.
“The Government is committed to supporting this science base whilst delivering a rigorous regulatory framework of protections where animals are used. I will, however, study the report of the debate.”
The parliamentary debate, raised by Elliot Colburn, MP for Carshalton and Wallington, was sparked by a petition which received 102,230 signatures.
The petition claimed the use of animals is scientifically, ethically, morally and financially (taxpayer funded) unjustifiably, and called to revoke all licences for commercial breeders of laboratory animals and to require all project licence applications to be reviewed by an independent Non-Animal Methods specialist committee.
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A spokesperson for Sequani said: "The debate showed the level of misinformation there is surrounding the use of animals in science among the MPs and activists.
"The testing methods used are not the choice of companies like Sequani but are requirements of the government regulators of medicines, chemicals and the environment.
"Sequani and our development partners already use nonanimal methods when they can be used, but these tend to have a very narrow application that does not capture all of the effects of a fully-working body.
"Animals are used in discovery science or to create and safety test medicines where the nonanimal methods have not got us where we need to be.
"This includes all vaccines for Covid-19, as well as new drugs announced recently to combat cancer and Alzheimer’s, pet medicines and more."
North Herefordshire MP Sir Bill Wiggin was unavailable for comment.
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