FBR in the News Archive
The Foundation for Biomedical Research works closely with
the
news media to ensure fair and factual news coverage of
animal research. Below is a collection of archived articles
and published letters from FBR.
More
Recent Articles and Editorials
Fighting
Back Against Extremists
Inside Higher Ed (insidehighered.com)
August 28, 2006 -- The recent incidents at UCLA “should
be a wake-up call for every university” and the steps
the university is taking “are extremely important,”
said Frankie Trull, president of the Foundation for Biomedical
Research, which supports the use of animals in research and
spars with animal rights groups.
Read the whole story> > >
Analysis: Researcher bows to
extremists
United Press International (UPI)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- The recent incident of a university
researcher who ceased experiments involving monkeys due to
pressure from animal-rights extremists has the pharmaceutical
industry concerned activists could ultimately drive research
organizations out of the United States.
Read
the whole story> > >
EXTREMISTS SUCCEED IN CAMPAIGN
OF INTIMIDATION;
ALL OF US STAND TO LOSE
Media
Statement by Frankie L. Trull, President
August 7, 2006
The Foundation for Biomedical
Research today expressed great dismay over a misguided and
criminal campaign of harassment and intimidation that has
resulted in a UCLA professor of neurobiology abandoning his
research as a result of the demands of the Animal Liberation
Front, following a campaign that included harassment of family
and neighbors, as well as an attempted bombing of a colleague’s
home. Click
to learn more > > > | Click
here for the pdf version.
PETA: Sacrifice Human, Not Animal Life for Medical
Research
FoxNews.com, July 21, 2006 - The animal
rights activist group PETA seems to have its own “ethical”
problem -- urging the sacrifice of human life rather than
that of laboratory animals for medical research. Read
the whole story > > >
Lawmakers Doyle, English publicize their pet projects
Pittsburg-Post Gazette (Pittsburgh, PA), July 11,
2006 - U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle brought his family's golden retriever
puppy, Brody, to a news conference yesterday at a Pittsburgh
animal shelter to publicize the proposed Pet Safety and Protection
Act that he is co-authoring with U.S. Rep. Phil English. The
bill would affect some animal dealers who provide dogs and
cats to research facilities, although there are only a handful
of them in the country. Those affected are called "Class
B" dealers by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and
they are currently permitted to sell "random-source dogs
and cats" to research facilities. ..."We've actually
called police departments and never uncovered a single case
of pets sold" for research, said Frankie L. Trull, president
of the Foundation for Biomedical Research. Read
the whole story > > >
Animal testing advances human health
The Daily News (Galveston, TX), November 9, 2005
- FBR President Frankie Trull writes, "Responsible animal
research has played a vital role in virtually every major
medical advance of the last century for both human and veterinary
health. From antibiotics to blood transfusions, from dialysis
to organ-transplantation, from vaccinations to chemotherapy,
bypass surgery and joint replacement, practically every present
day protocol for the prevention, treatment, cure and control
of disease, pain and suffering is based on knowledge attained
through research with animals."
Read the whole story> > >
Animal rights extremism crosses the Atlantic
Nature, October 6, 2005 - Intimidation of business
associates in the UK goes back to the beginning of the decade,
when activists targeted shareholders in Huntingdon Life Sciences.
But third-party targeting in the United States has started
to come to the fore in the past 18 months, says Frankie Trull,
President of the Foundation for Biomedical Research. "That
is a true UK export," she says. "We have known for years that
US activists go to the UK for training."
Read the whole story > >
>
Read
the Story in Nature (subsciption required)
The Essential Need for Animals in Medical Research
American Chronicle, October 5, 2005 - Animal research
has played a vital role in virtually every major medical advance
of the last century – for both human and animal health. From
antibiotics to blood transfusions, from dialysis to organ-transplantation,
from vaccinations to chemotherapy, bypass surgery and joint
replacement, practically every present day protocol for the
prevention, treatment, cure and control of disease, pain and
suffering is based on knowledge attained through research
with animals.
Read
the whole story> > >
Stock Listing Down a Rat Hole
The Washington Times, October 3, 2005 - As Frankie
Trull of the Foundation for Biomedical Research said, "If
the climate gets tough enough, these companies aren't going
out of business, they're going to China," or some place that
won't tolerate these criminal tactics.
Read
the whole story> > >
Article on Alzheimer's Research Shows Animal Studies
are Crucial
The Palm Beach Post, October 3, 2005 - FBR President
Frankie Trull writes, "The article 'Scripps lab chief explores
diabetes, Alzheimer's link' (Sept. 19) provided rare insight
into the work of scientists who are seeking a cure for Alzheimer's
disease. As it pointed out, the research being conducted with
mice soon may allow doctors to better treat and prevent one
of the most debilitating afflictions of old age."
Read
the whole story > > >
AIDS Coalition Clashes with Animal Rights Activists
The NewStandard, September 20, 2005 - Frankie Trull
of the Foundation for Biomedical Research contended that "scientists
are continually looking for new ways in which the number of
animals involved in research can be decreased or phased out
altogether." Trull, who is president of the Washington, DC-based
animal research advocacy group, does insist, however, that
"animals will continue to play a vital role in research for
decades to come."
Read
the whole story > > >
Rethinking PeTA
The Hollywood Reporter, September 9, 2005 - FBR President
Frankie Trull writes, "I believe that many of the celebrities
who have lent their names to help PETA have done so out of
genuine compassion for pets and may not be aware that the
organization actively fights to deny scientists the ability
to study lab animals -- the single most important weapon in
the fight against HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's
disease, Alzheimer's, spinal cord injury and other life-threatening
conditions."
Read
the whole story > > >
Don't Be Fooled by PeTA
The Arizona Republic, August 24, 2005 - FBR President
Frankie Trull writes, "The vast majority of Americans support
humane and responsible animal research because it advances
our understanding of human and veterinary medicine. And the
vast majority of Americans love animals. The two concepts
are not mutually exclusive when you know the facts."
Read
the whole story > > >
Animal-rights group practices terrorism
Home News Tribune (New Jersey), August 3, 2005 -
FBR President Frankie Trull writes, "Commendations are in
order for Home News Tribune reporter Cheryl Sarfaty, whose
July 26 article revealed the nasty nature of Stop Huntingdon
Animal Cruelty."
Read
the whole story > > >
Hollywood pets
Washington Times, July 26, 2005 - Will Hollywood
be forced to pick a new pet cause? An ad campaign that began
yesterday in Weekly Variety urges celebrities who support
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to dump
the organization and "fire their publicist" in light of the
felony animal-cruelty charges against two PETA employees.
"We believe that many of the stars on PETA's honorary committee
simply don't know what they're supporting," says Frankie Trull,
president of the Foundation for Biomedical Research. "Chances
are, they lent their names to this ubiquitous animal-rights
organization out of genuine compassion for animals, but would
be shocked and appalled by the indiscriminate killings of
homeless pets."
Read
the whole story > > >
Beastly killing unleashes attack by PETA's foes
New York Daily News, July 26, 2005 - The Hollywood-cozy
animal-rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
is nursing a big PR black eye over a terrible dog-and-cat-killing
incident involving PETA employees last month in North Carolina.
So yesterday one of PETA's enemies, the Foundation for Biomedical
Research, crowed about PETA's image injuries in the Hollywood
bible, Variety.
Read
the whole story> > >
Animal rights activists cross over to dark side
Contra Costa Times, June 22, 2005 - The animal rights
and environmental movements have a dark side, and it seems
to be getting darker.
Read
the whole story (free registration required)
Biotech fights back on animal rights
Philadelphi Inquirer, June 21, 2005 - "They will
hurt you, harass your families, and threaten your investors,"
said Frankie Trull, president of the National Association
for Biomedical Research. She showed data that indicate the
number of extremist groups and attacks on biotech companies
is increasing - a view confirmed by John Lewis of the FBI's
counter-terrorism unit, who was part of the panel discussion.
Read
the whole story> > >
'Largest single domestic terror threat'
Bergen County Record, June 16, 2005 - FBR President
Frankie Trull writes in an editorial, "Many militant animal
activists have long extolled the virtues of violence as a
means of "liberating" their fellow mammals. The trial that
began this week sends a clear message that acting on those
misguided principles will not be tolerated."
Read the whole story> > >
Guest Opinion: Animal research plays vital role
in human medicine
The Tucson Citizen, April 20, 2005 - FBR President
Frankie Trull writes, "Thanks to animal research, many diseases
that once killed millions of people every year are treatable
or have been eradicated. Since 1900, modern medicine has boosted
the average U.S. life span by almost 30 years. And infant
mortality, a key indicator of the nation's health, is down
to 7 deaths per 1,000 live births compared with 55 deaths
in 1935. It may not always be easy to reconcile our love for
animals with the need for research. But knowing the facts,
and rejecting hyperbole of activists, strengthens our respect
for the value of animal research and its contribution to improving
quality of life for people and other animals."
Read
the whole story > > >
Has science progressed beyond the need for animal
testing?
The San Diego Union-Tribune, March 16, 2005 - Animal
models for human conditions are not perfect, but they're "the
best possible models we have short of humans, and experimenting
on people is not acceptable," said Frankie Trull, president
of the Foundation for Biomedical Research.
Read
the whole story > > >
Kudos for U. research story
Deseret News, March 4, 2005 - "Sadly, animal activists
oppose and seek to end all such promising research — essentially
because they believe the life of a lab animal is equal to
that of a human," says FBR President Frankie Trull. "Thanks
to animal research, many diseases that once killed millions
of people every year are either treatable or have been eradicated
altogether. Immunizations against polio, diphtheria, mumps,
rubella and hepatitis save countless lives."
Read
the whole story > > >
Animals essential for research
Iowa City Press-Citizen, January 7, 2005 - Frankie
Trull, President of the Foundation for Biomedical Research
(FBR) writes in a guest column, “Animal activists oppose all
medical research essentially because they think the life of
a rat is equal in importance to that of a human. They also
conveniently choose to reject its well-established validity
and usefulness and the fact that regulations governing the
care and treatment of research animals are more extensive
than those covering human research subjects.”
Read
the whole story > > >
Security minimal at animal lab hit by activists
Des Moines Register, December 1, 2004 - A University
of Iowa animal research laboratory ravaged last month by animal-rights
activists lacked basic security systems, such as alarms and
video surveillance, officials acknowledged Tuesday. The lax
security made it relatively easy for the activists to break
into Spence Laboratories and Seashore Hall early Nov. 14.
They destroyed computers, doused research documents with acid,
and stole hundreds of animals. But security measures, such
as alarms, video cameras and security guards, are expensive
- particularly for public universities, animal research advocates
said. "That is money taken from other things in a university,"
said Frankie Trull, president of the Foundation for Biomedical
Research, a Washington, D.C.-based group.
Read
the whole story > > >
Animal activists target Manhattan-based Forest Laboratories
execs
Long Island Business News (Long Island, NY), July
16, 2004 - Long Island activists are vowing to keep the heat
on Forest Laboratories Inc. and its executives despite the
indictment of a C.W. Post student and six others on charges
of "animal enterprise terrorism." Frankie Trull, president
of the Foundation for Biomedical Research, acknowledged that
"there is a fear that runs through the industry." For Forest,
she said, the concern is not simply with its facilities and
employees but also with vendors, such as plumbers or caterers
who might be targets because of their association with the
company. "From a company's standpoint, it's very hard to get
your arms around that," she said. "These tertiary targets
aren't equipped to cope with the tactics we're seeing."
For the full text of the article, contact
FBR.
Target of the week
Townhall.com, May 31, 2004 – Last week, the feds
indicted seven members of the group Stop Huntingdon Animal
Cruelty for stalking, harassing and intimidating employees
at Huntingdon, Chiron and other concerns. As Frankie Trull
of the Foundation for Biomedical Research explained, harassing
medical researchers doesn't work because they won't quit the
work they love. “But if you are a company that provides
financial or banking services, and you have to empty your
building two days in a row for bomb threats, you are not going
to put your employees in jeopardy for one customer,“
said Trull.
Read
More > > >
Biotech sues animal activists
The Scientist, March 05, 2004 – Chiron Corporation,
a biopharmaceutical company in Emeryville, Calif., has filed
a lawsuit against a group of animal rights activists, alleging
a 10-month “campaign of terror” against its employees. The
California lawsuit “is not just about Chiron,” said company
spokesman John Gallagher. “Animal rights terrorism represents
a major threat to biomedical research everywhere,” he said.
And in a worrisome new trend, individual scientists and their
families are being targeted and harassed by animal rights
activists intent on stopping experiments using lab animals,
said Frankie Trull, president of the Foundation for Biomedical
Research, an organization that supports the “responsible use
and humane care and treatment of laboratory animals in research.”
Read
More > > >
Cambridge decision leaves scientists worried
The Scientist, January 30, 2004 – Cambridge University's
decision this week to abandon a high-profile project to build
a neuroscience laboratory involving research on primates has
been condemned as a devastating blow for British science by
senior researchers and decision makers. "This research is
not only legal, but of great benefit to the future of mankind,"
said Frankie Trull, president of the Foundation for Biomedical
Research. "The precedent set [by the Cambridge decision] sent
a chill down the backs of US research," said Trull. "I think
this country has underestimated the tenacity of the animal
rights lobby."
Read
More > > >
Protesters Carry the Fight to Executives' Homes
The New York Times, December 7, 2003 – The
notion of harassing employees beyond the confines of the workplace
is hardly new to the corporate protest movement. But in the
years since the filmmaker Michael Moore first pursued Roger
Smith, then the chief executive of General Motors, in the
movie "Roger and Me,'' protesters fed up with conventional
methods of dissent have carried out increasingly intrusive
incursions into the homes, neighborhoods and the private lives
of businesspeople. Frankie L. Trull, president of the Foundation
for Biomedical Research, said she worries that the campaign
could spread to other animal testing firms and undermine necessary
research. She and law enforcement officials also express concern
that physical assaults could be in the offing.
Read
More > > >
Survivors campaign promotes animal research to aid
animals
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
December 1, 2003 – The AVMA profiles FBR's Survivors
campaign in this month's Journal of the American Veterinary
Medical Association.
Read
the whole story > > >
Lawsuit seeks stronger protections for primates
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, December
1, 2003 – The complaint was filed July 22 in the U.S.
District Court for the Northern District of California on
behalf of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animal Welfare Institute,
and three citizens. The citizens allege primates with which
they have had regular contact suffer severe psychologic distress
resulting from inadequate environmental enrichment standards
attributable to the USDA. Others believe the issue to be so
complex that less government involvement is the answer. Frankie
Trull, president of the National Association for Biomedical
Research, represents the legislative and regulatory interests
of more than 300 universities, medical and veterinary schools,
pharmaceutical companies, and other animal research-related
entities.
Read
the whole story > > >
'Personhood' Redefined: Animal Rights Strategy Gets
at the Essence of Being Human
Association of American Medical Colleges, November
25, 2003 – If the "personhood" movement gathers
momentum and results in more stringent animal research laws,
research facilities will be subject to an increased number
of lawsuits, says [President, Foundation for Biomedical ResearchFrankie]
Trull. "The second thing that will happen is that some
species, such as non-human primates, probably won't be allowed
to be used for research at all." Such scenarios would
carry extraordinary cost implications, and the country's already
financially strained teaching hospitals and medical schools
would not be prepared to fight these battles, she adds.
Read
the whole story > > >
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