MAY 14th, 2026 Animal Use in Medical Research (LIVE- IN PERSON)

Meetup is in our Living Room in West Orange, NJ
(street address sent to NEWBIES 3-7 days ahead of the event)
We gather at 7:30 for 30 min of refreshments (and wine), and chit chat, and then spend 90 min in an informal, facilitated discussion based on the assigned podcasts
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# Questions to Consider:

1. Is it OK to use some kinds of animals more than others (mice/rats vs dogs or primates)?2. Does the goal of the research matter with respect to use of animals?
3. Would you be willing to participate in a clinical trial of a new drug in development, if there was never animal testing?
4. Does willingness to permit animal testing imply moral superiority of humans above animals?
5. What do you think about moving to alternate approaches to animals (computer/AI simulations, organoids in culture, stem cells)? Are these sufficient to get the information we need?
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# Please listen to the 4 podcasts (3 are short TED Talks) below before the meetup

[1] TED
It's Time to Think Outside the Cage (14 min)
Animal testing is largely disfavored globally, but the world is struggling to find alternatives. Dr. Charu Chandrasekera’s research has proven that there is not only a viable replacement, but one that is cheaper, faster, and more relevant to humans.
https://www.ted.com/talks/charu_chandrasekera_it_s_time_to_think_outside_the_cage

[2] TED
The Ethics of Animal Use in Research (14 min)
For decades laboratory animals have contributed to a multitude of medical advancements, ranging from insulin to cutting edge cancer treatments. Their use in research, although vital, has been controversial with many claiming that technology has progressed to a point where they are no longer needed. Computational modeling, cell, and tissue culturing techniques have made leaps and bounds but ultimately we are not yet in a place where animals and their products can be completely removed from the research process. In the past scientists who use animals in their work and spoke out in support have been threatened and harmed but Ph.D. candidate Courtney Bannerman believes it is important for people to hear both sides of the argument for the public to make an informed stance on animal use.
https://www.ted.com/talks/courtney_bannerman_the_ethics_of_animal_use_in_research

[3] TED ED
Ethical dilemma: Whose life is more valuable? -(6 min)
To protect against a possible resurgence of smallpox, the US government is funding research to improve treatments and vaccines. And since it’s unethical to expose people to a highly lethal virus, labs are using monkeys as research subjects. But is it right to harm these animals to protect humanity from a potential threat? Rebecca L. Walker takes a look at this classic ethical dilemma.
https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-do-we-determine-the-value-of-a-life-rebecca-l-walker/digdeeper

[4] 1A
Ethics of Animal Testing (32min)
What would you sacrifice to push efforts forward on eliminating diseases? What about to make sure our products and medicines are safe, especially for our most vulnerable?
These questions lead us to ethical quagmire and, oftentimes, to the use of animals for research, testing, and experimentation. We’ve long heard the term “lab rat.” Its popularity in conversation belies an understanding that these creatures are popular subjects for experimentation. But they’re far from the only ones.
Around 40,000 dogs were used as test subjects in labs last year, according to a leading advocacy group. The most common breed used are beagles.
Journalist Melanie Kaplan adopted Hammie in 2013, a lab beagle who had been used for research for nearly four years. It led her down a years-long rabbit hole to find out more about her companion’s past. It took her to a sanctuary farm for former research animals in Wyoming, a naked mole rat lab at Boston University, and the homes of former researchers.
We discuss her book, “Lab Dog: A Beagle and His Human Investigate the Surprising World of Animal Research.”
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1a/id1188724250?i=1000740929433

For newbies (and we love new people/ new voices):
the street address will be sent to you ~3-7 days before the event (lots of street parking)
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Only sign up if you plan to show up (or risk being tarred and feathered).

• If you can't make it-- please change your RSVP from YES to NO as early as possible so that others can get in
• $2 on-site for refreshments/cover the annual fees for the meetup site.