AFMA is supported in part by a major grant from the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS), a national, not-for-profit educational organization dedicated to eliminating the use of animals in product testing, biomedical research and education. Dr Ray Greek, president and co-founder of AFMA, is also a scientific advisor for NAVS and is the author of Dr. Greek’s Office, a regular feature on the NAVS website, www.navs.org.
AFMA and NAVS share common ground in that both organizations are dedicated to disseminating a message that is vital to promoting medical progress and human health—that the use of animals as predictive models for human drug and disease response is a scientifically untenable position. At the same time, there are crucial differences between the two organizations that are worth pointing out.
AFMA’s position on animals as predictive models for human drug and disease response is based entirely on science, incorporating our current knowledge of evolutionary theory and complexity theory, as well as exhaustive clinical and empirical evidence. Unlike NAVS, however, AFMA does not disagree with the legitimate use of animals in science, of which there are several. In this respect, we do support ongoing efforts to reduce and refine the use of animals wherever appropriate, and we applaud the development of non-animal alternatives if they are shown to be scientifically valid. We believe this represents a rational and common-sense approach to the use of animals in science.
NAVS seeks the complete abolition of the use of animals in all scientific and educational endeavors, with a view that incorporates both scientific and ethical considerations. NAVS’ position incorporates both scientific and ethical considerations. Our paths intersect in two respects: 1) the view that the use of animals as predictive models for human drug and disease response is scientifically untenable; and 2) that such misuse delays medical progress and compromises human health.
Like AFMA, NAVS is a mainstream, educational organization that seeks reasonable and constructive dialogue with the scientific community and public policy officials. They believe, rightly so, that such communications would be less than effective without an understanding of and ability to communicate key scientific principles, and as such have sought out the expertise and insights of Dr Greek and AFMA. Likewise, Dr Greek and AFMA appreciate the opportunity to broaden the audience for our message.
