Research and responsibility
Re “Smoking, and ire, at UCLA,” Feb. 9
As a graduate of the UCLA School of Public Health, I am dismayed to learn of Philip Morris funding being accepted for tobacco research. The professed naivete of the undoubtedly qualified scientist and UCLA officials is more troubling. A modicum of research would show them that the only reason the tobacco industry takes such actions is to increase profits -- which necessitates addicting people.
The industry’s motive is far from “immaterial,” as UCLA’s vice chancellor for research must know -- it’s called the profit motive. It will taint any published research that might result from this work.
Steve Heilig
San Francisco
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I was disappointed by the article about the ongoing UCLA study on adolescent nicotine addiction. By repeating unfounded allegations made by extremists that threaten the lives of our researchers or by anti-tobacco groups, this article sensationalizes a serious attempt to understand, and hopefully help prevent and treat, teenage addiction to tobacco.
This study, as any other study involving human or animal subjects at UCLA, has gone through the federally mandated review, and its results will be published in peer-reviewed literature without interference from funders. To insinuate that this study is tainted by its sponsor, or because it uses animals and deals with adolescents who are addicted, is unfair and misleading.
Roberto Peccei
Vice Chancellor for Research
UCLA, Westwood
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This article focuses on the funding sources for Edythe London’s research, but it neglects to emphasize the magnitude of the violent attacks against her, or her work’s potential benefit to society. Although members of the Society for Neuroscience believe in the right to peaceful expression of diverse opinions, violence and threats are beyond the bounds of acceptable discourse and debate.
Despite being highly regulated, peer-reviewed, crucial to public health and legal, vital research is increasingly under violent attack by animal rights protesters engaging in illegal actions. This trend will continue unabated unless research institutions, governments, national funding agencies and the science community unite to defend responsible biomedical research. The responsible use of animals in research is indispensable for diagnosing and treating numerous medical conditions affecting millions. Violence, harassment and illegal actions to intimidate these researchers have no place in our society of laws.
Jeffrey H. Kordower
Chair, Committee on Animals in Research
Society for Neuroscience
Chicago
