EARA has expressed its deep concern at the ideologically-based decision of the competent authority for the federal state of Bremen, Germany, which has halted significant neuroscience research using animals.
In an alarming development, a proposed study, by Prof Andreas Kreiter, head of the Laboratory for Cognitive Neurophysiology, at the University of Bremen, looking at the cognitive processes of monkeys, was rejected by the authority because ‘the clinical applicability of the intended gain in knowledge is uncertain’.
The EARA statement said (also in German) that the ruling was neither true in scientific terms, or justified under existing national and EU regulations.
EARA executive director, Kirk Leech, said: “It appears that the ruling of the competent authority is driven by dogma rather than sound science.”
The issue has now passed to the Bremen courts for a decision.
The Alliance of Science Organisations in Germany has also released a statement supporting Kreiter, highlighting the importance of fundamental science.