World-famous “Project Nim” primatologist, Robert Ingersoll, is one of the experts backing the United for Animals in Labs coalition to support the researchers who are conducting COVID-19 research without the use of animals.

He states that “using non-human primates, mice and any animals to find a cure for viruses, such as the coronavirus, which won’t be the last one we see, is not only unethical but produces vastly inaccurate results and quite simply takes too long." 

Dr Andre Menache (Veterinary Surgeon and Scientific Consultant) is also backing the call for ethical research. 

Dr Menache believes that “we need to fund research that does not use animals, so we are ready with models that are quicker, more efficient, more cost-effective and have better predictive outcomes."

Prof. Andrew Knight (New Zealand, American, European and UK veterinary specialist in animal welfare) adds that "we have tended historically to rely upon animals as models of human patients when seeking to develop new medicines. However, we know from a really substantial body of research in recent years and indeed decades that animal models overall are not sufficiently predictive for human patients."   

Hear what else the experts have to say in the video below.