Prof. Rolf Zeller
Wednesday, 9 November 2016, 18:00, Staff Lounge
Animal Research in the Spotlight: Biomedical Research versus Animal Rights?
Research with animals is well and tightly regulated in Europe due to the EU Directive 2010/63 and national laws, which govern the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. For example, the 3R principles are an integral part of nowadays research and animal experiments are only warranted if no valid animal-free alternatives exist. While scientists have implemented these rules into their research, the opponents of animal experimentation continue to argue that animals are instrumentalised for research, which relies on antiquated technology and wastes animal life. In Switzerland, all animals (and plants) have been granted dignity by law and the Sentience Politics movement argues that all animals (including invertebrates) are sentient beings that deserve moral consideration and cannot be instrumentalised. Currently, this movement campaigns for fundamental rights for non-human primates, but their ultimate goal is similar rights for all animals. It is tempting to dismiss these views as extreme, but philosophical and emotional rather than fact-based scientific campaigns capture the public often better and can have a significant impact on the legal process. Therefore, biomedical researchers should permanently and pro-actively engage in an open dialog, not only concerning the contributions of animal research to human health and scientific knowledge, but also regarding the relevant ethical, moral and legal issues.
Suggested reading
PRO-ANIMAL RESEARCH
Basel Declaration Society: http://www.basel-declaration.org
Understanding Animal Research: http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk
Pro-Test UK: http://www.pro-test.org.uk
Pro-Test Italia: http://www.pro-test.it and https://protestitalia.wordpress.com
Pro-Test Germany: http://www.pro-test-deutschland.de
Tierversuche verstehen Germany: https://www.tierversuche-verstehen.de
Speaking of Research USA: https://speakingofresearch.com
Reatch Switzerland: https://reatch.ch
Forschung f. Leben: http://www.forschung-leben.ch
CONTRA ANIMAL RESEARCH
Sentience Politics movement: https://sentience-politics.org
Stop Vivisection: http://www.stopvivisection.eu/en
Biography
Rolf Zeller is President of the international Basel Declaration Society and Professor in Developmental Genetics at the Department of Biomedicine at the University of Basel, Switzerland. He gained his PhD at the Biocenter of the University of Basel in 1984. Following postdoctoral research at the Department of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, he led a group at EMBL Heidelberg 1989-98. Prior to his current appointment, Zeller was a Professor in Developmental Biology at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Zeller is an EMBO Member, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and Member of the National Research Council SNSF. He has been awarded an ERC Advanced Grant in 2016.
Research interests
We systematically analyze the signal-antagonist interactions and auto-regulatory feedback loops that control vertebrate organogenesis. We use CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing of the mouse genome in combination with genome-wide analysis of chromatin architecture and transcriptomics to study the self-regulatory signaling systems that control growth, patterning and differentiation of limb bud mesenchymal progenitor and stem cells. We aim to understand how cells integrate signaling inputs into a transcriptional output that controls their proliferation, fate and differentiation potential. In addition, our research provides deep molecular insights into how the gene regulatory networks and interactions adapted to the evolutionary changes underlying diversification of vertebrate limbs. In collaboration with clinical research groups, we apply the knowledge gained to development-inspired engineering of cartilage tissue from mesenchymal progenitor/stem cells.
Science and Society
Several years ago, I have decided for a proactive stance in informing the general public and stakeholders about the continued necessity and importance of basic and applied research that critically depends on animal experimentation. I do this as part of my active engagement for the Basel Declaration Society, a grass-root organisation that engages in a permanent and open dialog with stakeholders and the general public about the continued importance of ethically responsible research with animals. Recently, I have also participated in public and intergovernmental forums devoted to discussing the potential benefits and risks of genome-editing in biomedical research and attempts to improve human health and welfare.