THE UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER
University Road,
Leicester, LE1 7RH
Office of the Vice Chancellor
Professor Robert George Burgess

Dear Professor Burgess,
I am approaching you in the spirit of academic freedom and the pursuit of true knowledge, to ask whether Leicester University would host a scientific debate on the subject of animal experiments.

As you may be aware from the published scientific literature, the Transplant Group affiliated to the University of Leicester has sacrificed dozens of pigs in the search for a preservative solution to extend the life of a donor organ. In examining the history of the first preservative solution, which was invented at the University of Wisconsin, it is worth noting that a large number of solutions that worked well in animals, failed in humans. The point is that if you test enough preservative solutions in enough animals you will eventually, due to sheer luck, find one that works in an animal as well as humans. But is this good science, and was it really necessary to use animals, rather than modern human-based methodologies?

Indeed, it is not uncommon for animal researchers to confuse hindsight with prediction.

Based on the above, I would like to ask whether Leicester University would host a scientific debate entitled: "Are animal experiments predictive for human health?"

Feedback and comments welcome.
Kind regards,
Andre Menache MRCVS
Scientific Consultant