Crucial medical research may be under threat in the UK, scientists have warned, after blaming the halt in building of an 拢18 million animal experimentation laboratory in Oxford on action by animal rights extremists.
Oxford University revealed on Monday that by 鈥渕utual consent鈥� it had agreed with the construction firm Montpellier Plc to end their contract to build the biomedical research facility.
Montpellier pulled out following an intimidation campaign by animal rights extremists, which targeted shareholders. A company that supplied concrete to the site is also reported to have come under attack.
Advertisement
The lab was being built to house research into diseases like Alzheimer鈥檚 disease. About 98% of the animals housed at the new lab would be rodents, but some primates would be kept too. The new lab would consolidate and replace existing labs at the university.
It is the second time in 2004 that a major animal research lab has been scuppered by animal activists. In January, plans for a primate research centre at Cambridge University, backed by prime minister Tony Blair, were axed as the security costs of protecting the lab from extremists were deemed too high.
鈥楾errorist activities鈥�
Researchers and industry are united in condemning the halt in building at Oxford. 鈥淭his is very disturbing news if it is true that the company has pulled out because of threats of violence and intimidation by animal rights terrorists,鈥� says a spokesperson for the Royal Society. 鈥淭he development of medical treatments that could save or improve the lives of millions of people could be delayed or even prevented if vital research does not take place due to the terrorist activities of animal rights extremists.鈥�
Tipu Aziz, a consultant neurosurgeon at Oxford University, says: 鈥淎nimal rights terrorism is the most immediate threat to the British population.鈥� The extremists will 鈥渉old hostage the future of British public health鈥�, he warns.
The situation is 鈥渢ruly appalling鈥� says Richard Ley of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. 鈥淭his announcement reinforces the need for the government to introduce a single piece of legislation to address the issue of animal terrorism.鈥�
Changes in the law may be vital in protecting medical research, agree other scientific groups. 鈥淲hat has happened to Montpellier is coercion and blackmail 鈥� it鈥檚 as simple as that. If the law and law enforcement is not strong enough to protect companies from these criminal offences, then the law and its enforcement need to be made stronger,鈥� says Mark Matfield, director of the Research Defence Society, which represents scientists who use animals in their research.
Oxford University insists that the research facility will go ahead. 鈥淭he University remains firmly committed to the completion of this building,鈥� says a spokesperson.