The Remember the Patients Campaign

What is happening?

Animal research has contributed to many of the medical advances we now take for granted and continues to play a central role in understanding why we get ill and developing new treatments for people across the globe.

The laws governing medical research using animals across the EU (Directive 86/609) were drawn up in the 1980s and are now being revised. This is an important opportunity to raise welfare standards for animals, while also allowing well-regulated medical research into medical conditions to continue.

Why should you care?

Research using animals is part of the scientific process by which we understand disease and develop treatments, and vaccines and cures too.

The UK is a world leader in biomedical research and animal work is set to play a vital role in research into incurable genetic conditions. The development of genetically modified animal models that mimic conditions which occur in humans, allows researchers to study conditions such as Muscular Dystrophy, Cystic Fibrosis and Sickle Cell Disease, to name just a few.

We need an environment that allows such research to go ahead, and the revised Directive as it stands poses a threat to this. You and your loved ones could be among those who would suffer as a result.

What can you do?

Members of the European Parliament will be voting on the Directive in early May. This matters to you and your voice matters to them! The Association of Medical Research Charities, the Genetic Interest Group and Understanding Animal Research are launching a Remember the Patients campaign.

You can make a real difference by writing to your MEPs and reminding them how this could affect you, your mother, your child, your brother or your friend. Ask them to 'Remember you' when they vote on the Directive.

Go to the EU Parliament directory of MEPs. Select your region and you will see a list of all the MEPs that represent you and their email addresses.

Tell them briefly why animal research matters to you or use some or all of the text below. Do not include images or attachments with your email as this may result in the email being rejected.

Please send us a copy of what you send your MEPs, and a copy of anything you get back from them.

Your Email

Subject: EU Directive 86/609 - Remember the Patients

Dear[insert MEP's name],

I am writing as your constituent, asking you to remember[me/my story/my XXX] when voting on Directive 86/609.

Without animal research, scientists across Europe would have difficulty understanding ill health or developing many of the treatments which keep us alive or give us quality of life. For example, medicines for diabetes, asthma and leukaemia and medical procedures such as blood transfusions and transplant surgery may not have been possible without animal research.

Well-regulated, essential animal research continues to be accepted by the vast majority of people in the vast majority of opinion polls. It underpins many aspects of medical progress. Scientists in Europe must be allowed to continue work to understand, and develop treatments for, the many unmet health needs of patients in Europe.

Such things affect us all. Please remember the patients when you vote in May.

[insert your name and postcode]