Gill Langley
Encyclopedia
Gillian Rose Langley (born 1952) is a British scientist and writer who specializes in alternatives to animal testing
and animal rights
. She is a member of the Replacement Advisory Group of the British National Centre for the Three Rs, founded by David Sainsbury
, and was from 1981 until 2009 the science director of the Dr Hadwen Trust
, a medical research charity. She was a member of the British government's Animal Procedures Committee
for eight years, and has worked as a consultant for the European Commission, and for animal protection organizations in Europe and the United States.
Langley is the author of Vegan Nutrition (1988), and editor of Animal Experimentation: The Consensus Changes (1990). She has written a number of reports for the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection
and the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments, including Faith, Hope & Charity? An Enquiry into Charity-Funded Research (1988), and Next of Kin (2006), an examination of primate experimentation.
In April 2006, she was a member of the panel at the Oxford Union
that debated whether "This house would not test on animals." Opposing the motion were Laurie Pycroft—who founded Pro-Test
, which organized the debate—Sir Colin Blakemore
, Professor John Stein, and Professor Lord Robert Winston
. Supporting the motion, along with Langley, were Dr Andrew Knight, Uri Geller
and BUAV campaigns director Alistair Currie. The motion was defeated by 273 to 48.
She is particularly opposed to the use of non-human primates in xenotransplantation
, where pig organs are grafted onto the necks of primates to test anti-rejection drugs. She told medical journalists Jenny Bryan and John Clare that the primates used in xenotransplantation research are subjected to major surgery; internal haemorrhages; isolation in small cages; repeated blood sampling; wound infections; nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea because of immunosuppressant drugs; kidney or heart failure, and eventually death. She said: "It's not just the suffering they endure in the laboratories and research establishments. Just getting there can be torture. Studies of primates show them to have complex mental abilities which may increase their capacity to suffer. Supplying the laboratories in the UK imposes huge suffering on the animals... They're then contained in small, single cages, and transported for very long distances causing deaths, distress and suffering."
and the Wellcome Trust
in favor of primate experimentation. The New Scientist writes that her report cites studies suggesting that macaque
s and other small monkeys are more conscious of themselves and others than was previously believed, giving them a moral status equivalent to that of great apes, who are currently not used in experiments in the UK. David Morton, professor of Biomedical Science & Ethics at the University of Birmingham, said the report was "a wake-up call to scientists to raise their game in their justification and ways they use non-human primates in research."
Alternatives to animal testing
Many scientists and governments say that animal testing should cause as little suffering as possible, and some argue that alternatives to animal testing need to be developed...
and animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
. She is a member of the Replacement Advisory Group of the British National Centre for the Three Rs, founded by David Sainsbury
David Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville
David John Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville, FRS , is a British businessman and politician. From 1992 to 1997, he served as the Chairman of Sainsbury's . He was made a life peer in 1997, and currently sits in the House of Lords as a member of the Labour Party...
, and was from 1981 until 2009 the science director of the Dr Hadwen Trust
Dr Hadwen Trust
The Dr Hadwen Trust is the UK's leading medical research charity that funds and promotes exclusively non-animal techniques to replace animal experiments...
, a medical research charity. She was a member of the British government's Animal Procedures Committee
Animal Procedures Committee
The Animal Procedures Committee advises the British Home Secretary on matters related to animal testing in the UK. The function of the committee was made a statutory requirement by the Animals Act 1986 , which mandates that it should have at least 12 members, excluding the chair...
for eight years, and has worked as a consultant for the European Commission, and for animal protection organizations in Europe and the United States.
Langley is the author of Vegan Nutrition (1988), and editor of Animal Experimentation: The Consensus Changes (1990). She has written a number of reports for the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection
British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection
The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection is a British animal protection and advocacy group that campaigns for the abolition of all animal experiments...
and the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments, including Faith, Hope & Charity? An Enquiry into Charity-Funded Research (1988), and Next of Kin (2006), an examination of primate experimentation.
Education
Langley obtained an MA in physiology, cell biology, and zoology at the University of Cambridge, then gained her PhD in neurochemistry, also from Cambridge. She took up a position as a research fellow at the University of Nottingham, specializing in neurophysiology in cell culture.Involvement in animal protection
Langley was herself an animal researcher who decided to campaign professionally against animal experiments. She was a member of the Animal Procedures Committee for eight years, which advises the British Home Office on issues related to animal testing, and has acted as an advisor to the government on the introduction of the new European Union chemicals legislation, REACH. She has served as a specialist consultant for the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). She was called as an expert witness in 2001 by the House of Lords Select Committee on Animals In Scientific Procedures during its inquiry into animal experimentation in the UK.In April 2006, she was a member of the panel at the Oxford Union
Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, Britain, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford...
that debated whether "This house would not test on animals." Opposing the motion were Laurie Pycroft—who founded Pro-Test
Pro-Test
Pro-Test is a British group that promotes and supports animal testing in medical research. It was founded on January 29, 2006 to counter SPEAK, an animal-rights campaign opposing the construction by Oxford University of a biomedical and animal-research facility, which SPEAK believes may include a...
, which organized the debate—Sir Colin Blakemore
Colin Blakemore
Professor Colin Blakemore, Ph.D., FRS, FMedSci, HonFSB, HonFRCP, is a British neurobiologist who is Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Oxford and University of Warwick specialising in vision and the development of the brain. He was formerly Chief Executive of the British Medical...
, Professor John Stein, and Professor Lord Robert Winston
Robert Winston
Robert Maurice Lipson Winston, Baron Winston is a British professor, medical doctor, scientist, television presenter and politician.-Early life and education :...
. Supporting the motion, along with Langley, were Dr Andrew Knight, Uri Geller
Uri Geller
Uri Geller is a self-proclaimed psychic known for his trademark television performances of spoon bending and other supposed psychic effects. Throughout the years, Geller has been accused of using simple conjuring tricks to achieve the effects of psychokinesis and telepathy...
and BUAV campaigns director Alistair Currie. The motion was defeated by 273 to 48.
Position on animal research
Langley is an anti-vivisectionist and vegan. She told The Guardian that she "would never claim that all animal experiments are without scientific value," but argues that what she sees as the scientific flaws in animal experimentation and the ethical case against it constitute a case for its immediate abolition. She also argues that the legislation supposed to protect the 2.7 million animals currently used each year in the UK is inadequate, and that more money should be invested in developing alternatives, such as in-vitro and clinical studies. She told the BBC: "When you know that other animals can feel pain and distress in the same ways that humans do, it is unethical to experiment on them." She argues that because the British government's budget for alternatives is subdivided into different areas, what each area receives is barely enough to fund one research project.She is particularly opposed to the use of non-human primates in xenotransplantation
Xenotransplantation
Xenotransplantation , is the transplantation of living cells, tissues or organs from one species to another. Such cells, tissues or organs are called xenografts or xenotransplants...
, where pig organs are grafted onto the necks of primates to test anti-rejection drugs. She told medical journalists Jenny Bryan and John Clare that the primates used in xenotransplantation research are subjected to major surgery; internal haemorrhages; isolation in small cages; repeated blood sampling; wound infections; nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea because of immunosuppressant drugs; kidney or heart failure, and eventually death. She said: "It's not just the suffering they endure in the laboratories and research establishments. Just getting there can be torture. Studies of primates show them to have complex mental abilities which may increase their capacity to suffer. Supplying the laboratories in the UK imposes huge suffering on the animals... They're then contained in small, single cages, and transported for very long distances causing deaths, distress and suffering."
Next of Kin
Langley's report, Next of Kin (2006), was published simultaneously with the publication by the Medical Research CouncilMedical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
and the Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust was established in 1936 as an independent charity funding research to improve human and animal health. With an endowment of around £13.9 billion, it is the United Kingdom's largest non-governmental source of funds for biomedical research...
in favor of primate experimentation. The New Scientist writes that her report cites studies suggesting that macaque
Macaque
The macaques constitute a genus of Old World monkeys of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. - Description :Aside from humans , the macaques are the most widespread primate genus, ranging from Japan to Afghanistan and, in the case of the barbary macaque, to North Africa...
s and other small monkeys are more conscious of themselves and others than was previously believed, giving them a moral status equivalent to that of great apes, who are currently not used in experiments in the UK. David Morton, professor of Biomedical Science & Ethics at the University of Birmingham, said the report was "a wake-up call to scientists to raise their game in their justification and ways they use non-human primates in research."
Publications
- Next of Kin: A Report on the Use of Primates in Experiments, British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection and European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE), 2006.
- Vegan Nutrition. The Vegan Society, 1988. ISBN 0-907337-18-X
- Animal Experimentation: The Consensus Changes. MacMillan, 1989. ISBN 0-412-02411-X
- "Plea for a Sensitive Science" in Animal Experimentation: The Consensus Changes. MacMillan, 1989
- Acute Toxicity Testing Without Animals, ECEAE, 2005.
- Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals - A Non-animal Testing Approach, Green PartyGreen Party of England and WalesThe Green Party of England and Wales is a political party in England and Wales which follows the traditions of Green politics and maintains a strong commitment to social progressivism. It is the largest Green party in the United Kingdom, containing within it various regional divisions including...
, 2004. - "Chemical Safety & Animal Testing: A Regulatory Smokescreen?", ECEAE, 2004.
- The Way Forward: Strategy for a Future Chemicals Policy, (Part 1), Part 2, ECEAE, 2004.
- The case against the use of animals in medical experiments in Levinson, Ralph and Reiss , Michael J. (eds.) Key Issues in Bioethics: A Guide for Teachers, pp.167-174. Taylor & Francis Group 2004 ISBN 0-203-47286-1 (e-Book).
Further reading
- British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, accessed 9 June 2010.
- National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research, accessed 9 June 2010.
- Examination of Witnesses (Questions 382-399), Select Committee on Animals In Scientific Procedures, accessed 9 June 2010.
- Interview with Gill Langley, Today, BBC Radio Four, 7 September 2004, accessed 9 June 2010.
- Animal research is poor science, Peter TatchellPeter TatchellPeter Gary Tatchell is an Australian-born British political campaigner best known for his work with LGBT social movements...
interviews Gill Langley on Talking with Tatchell, accessed 9 June 2010.