Animal experimentation: are we allowed to do that? In this thematic portal, researchers of the Swiss Laboratory Animal Science Association give answers to frequently asked questions.

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Why do we need to conduct more research?

Kantonsspital Baden

Fortunately, many successes have been achieved in the treatment of diseases in recent decades. Nevertheless, effective therapies are still lacking in many areas. For example, the increasing development of resistance to antibiotics requires the development of new products.

Research is also still needed into the many different mechanisms, which regulate how cancers develop and spread through the body. Although there are therapies or even vaccinations for many cancers, some of these therapies are associated with sometimes massive side effects for the patients and many still do not lead to a complete cure.

We still know too little about many neurological or psychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, or depression to be able to cure them. Animal experiments help uncover disease mechanisms and develop new therapeutic approaches.

Many research projects also directly benefit animals. For example, medicines and vaccines for animals also require animal experiments. Experiments help improve the effects, tolerability and safety of veterinary drugs.