Rat Trap by Pandora Pound - book review
🐀 The capture of medicine by animal research and how to break free
A short one today as I’m away this week. I’m popping in with a review of a highly recommended book from our friends at Safer Medicines Trust.
📖 Book review
If you’ve ever wondered how – and why – it’s become the norm to use animals in medical research, then I recommend the book Rat Trap by Dr Pandora Pound 👇
Rat Trap is a compelling tale about the rise of animal research, and its inevitable fall – which is finally showing the first signs of decline thanks to the animal-free technologies we all support.
Pandora tackles the age-old question of who benefits from the use of animals in research, using compelling evidence and sound science to debunk the myth that it’s essential for human wellbeing.
She interviews scientists at the forefront of the charge to the brighter future we all want to see, including Animal Free Research UK’s Prof Geoff Pilkington and Prof Lorna Harries who describe the brilliant new technologies already helping to make new medicines more effective.
Dr Pound is an eminent voice in the field. She published a study in 2004 in the prestigious British Medical Journal called, ‘Where is the evidence that animal research benefits humans?’. It provoked a storm of controversy – and a series of scientific cases revealing the lack of translation from animals to humans in medical research. (You can read the full article on ResearchGate).
In Rat Trap, Pandora brings this work up to date, giving us the latest scoop on what she sees as the impending demise of science’s sacred cow.
What a corker of a book! A superb analysis of the promises and pitfalls limiting the use of animals in medical research. Lucid and elegantly written. Highly recommended.
- Dr James Le Fanu, doctor, columnist for the Daily Telegraph and author of Too Many Pills and The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine
You certainly don’t need to be a scientist or an expert to enjoy this fascinating book, which is packed full of intelligent reasoning, fresh insights and first-hand experience. I thought I knew the history of this most urgent and controversial issue but came away with my eyes opened wider than ever.
If you want to speak up, armed with solid arguments that end the debate for animal research once and for all, read this now!
Get your paws on a copy of Rat Trap at Amazon or Troubador Publishing.
Listen to Pandora Pound on the Animal Free Labcast
Episode #17 – Pandora Pound – Breaking free from the Rat Trap
Oct 4 2023 Season 3 Episode 17
Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts!
Listen to Pandora and me chat about Rat Trap on the Animal Free Labcast. She sheds light on the complexities of driving change in research, with a focus on the importance of public awareness and demand for ethical and effective alternatives.
Our conversation draws parallels between the animal-free research movement and the transition to renewable energy in addressing climate change, highlighting the importance of gradually phasing out outdated practices.
💬 Join the Conversation
Have you read Rat Trap, and if not, might you? Share your thoughts below.
Until next time,
Carla 🐀
P.S. Know someone who might be interested in hearing how we’re putting humans at the heart of medical research? Please share - thank you.
I am re-reading this excellent book and taking notes as it is packed full of info essential to arguments I will be making on behalf of Wales Against Animal Experiments in engaging with Welsh Government concerning the need to ensure funding is diverted to human relevant technologies