Volume 63, Issue 8, Pages 725-727 (15 April 2008)

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It Is Time to Take a Stand for Medical Research and Against Terrorism Targeting Medical Scientists

, Cameron S. Carterk, Daniel Geschwindn, Husseini K. Manji1, John S. March24, Eric J. Nestlerf g, Jon-Kar Zubieta25 26, Dennis S. Charney39 40 41, David Goldman15, Raquel E. Gurx, Jeffrey A. Lieberman35 36, Peter Roy-Byrne50 51, David R. Rubinow14 23, Stewart A. Anderson31, Samuel Barondesq, Karen F. Berman10, James Blair5, David L. Braffj, E. Sherwood Brownf, Joseph R. Calabrese53, William A. Carlezon Jr17 20, Edwin H. Cook Jr29, Richard J. Davidson30, Michael Davis22, Robert Desimone21, Wayne C. Drevets8, Ronald S. Dumana c d, Susan M. Essock32 36, Stephen V. Faraone44, Robert Freedman45 46, Karl J. Friston58, Joel Gelerntera e, Barbara Geller52, Michael Gill56, Elizabeth Gould54, Anthony A. Graceu v w, Christian Grillon4, Ralitza Gueorguievab, Ahmad R. Haririt u, Robert B. Innis12, Edward G. Jonesl, Joel E. Kleinman9, George F. Koobi, Andrew D. Krystal24, Ellen Leibenluft3, Douglas F. Levinsonr, Pat R. Levitt48 49, David A. Lewisu v, Israel Liberzon25, Barbara K. Lipska9, Stephen R. Marderm o, Athina Markouj, Graeme F. Masona, Christopher J. McDougle28, Bruce S. McEwen42, Francis J. McMahon2, Michael J. Meaney55, Herbert Y. Meltzer47, Kathleen R. Merikangas6, Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg61, Károly Mirnics47, Lisa M. Monteggiaf, Alexander Neumeistera e, Charles P. O’Brieny z, Michael J. Owen60, Daniel S. Pine7, Judith L. Rapoport13, Scott L. Rauch18 20, Trevor W. Robbins59, Jerrold F. Rosenbaum19 20, David R. Rosenberg27, Christopher A. Ross16, A. John Rushf h, Harold A. Sackeim33 36 37, Gerard Sanacoraa, Alan F. Schatzbergs, Yavin Shaham11, Larry J. Siever39 43, Trey Sunderland62, Laurence H. Tecottp, Michael E. Thaseu, Richard D. Todd52, Myrna M. Weissman34 36 38, Rachel Yehuda39 43, Takeo Yoshikawa57, Elizabeth A. Young25 26, R. McCandlessf

Received 5 March 2008; accepted 5 March 2008.

Refers to erratum:

Errata
Biological Psychiatry
15 May 2008 (Vol. 63, Issue 10, Page 1001)
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Article Outline

• Acknowledgment

• Supplementary data

• References

• Copyright

Terrorists are attacking scientists who are attempting to alleviate human suffering. We need a concerted public effort to eliminate these acts, particularly the harassment of scientists studying nonhuman primates. This need is highlighted by the attacks upon the home of our friend and colleague, the noted medical scientist, Dr. Edythe London, professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences and of molecular and medical pharmacology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Her work exemplifies the unique role of research involving nonhuman primates in enabling the results of research in simple systems (oocytes, cell culture) and lower organisms to be applied to human diseases. The importance of Dr. London’s research was highlighted in a public letter issued on February 8, 2008 from the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr. Elias Zerhouni, who stated, “her work is a prime example of NIH’s efforts … to develop effective treatments for people suffering from addiction—a disease that devastates individuals, families, communities, and costs society more than half a trillion dollars annually in health and crime-related costs and losses in productivity.”

Dr. London suffered two attacks upon her home within 4 months that have escalated in their level of threat to her life and work. The first occurred on October 20, 2007, and it involved the flooding of her house with water. A press release from the Animal Liberation Front, a group that has publicized both attacks, noted that water was used for the initial act because “we don’t risk starting brush fires,” a serious public threat in Southern California. Nevertheless, in the second attack on February 5, 2008, a Molotov cocktail firebomb was ignited, setting fire to Dr. London’s home. These crimes mirror other recent attacks on scientists conducting medical research involving animals, only a few of which we will mention here (1). In June 2006, another incendiary device intended for UCLA neuroscientist, Dr. Lynn Fairbanks, was placed on the doorstep of her 70-year-old neighbor. In June 2007, a third incendiary device was found at the home of another UCLA neuroscientist, Dr. Arthur Rosenbaum, the chief of pediatric ophthalmology at that institution. Dr. Rosenbaum’s wife also received a letter that included death threats and that was accompanied by razor blades and animal hair. Problems also have been escalating at the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC). Most recently, on February 25, 2008, after a series of other incidents, six people broke into the home of a UCSC faculty member, whose name has not been released, and attacked a member of that faculty person’s family. The Santa Cruz Sentinel, on February 26, implicated a group of six people and a corporation, Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty USA. Threatening acts have occurred at other American medical research institutions, including the Oregon Health Sciences University and the University of Utah (1). The attacks in the United States follow a more vigorous program of terrorism in the United Kingdom aimed at disrupting medical research, particularly research involving nonhuman primates (2).

The attacks are horribly misguided. It is impossible to reconcile the willingness of these terrorists to harm humans, particularly people who are working to alleviate human suffering, with their contention that they value life of all kinds. Scientists, like Dr. London, care about the primates that they study. Scientists are partners with other interested groups in the ongoing international effort to improve the principles and practices governing animal research (briefly reviewed at http://www.nabr.org/pdf/orange.pdf). This peaceful and collaborative process is critical to preserve in the face of the recent violence.

We need to support our colleagues and to work to preserve the integrity of the mission of alleviating human suffering through biomedical research involving animals. In so doing, we might help to ensure that these attacks upon scientists do not discourage much-needed research by demoralizing scientists or by stimulating institutions to adopt overly burdensome administrative practices (2). The recent events at UCLA make clear that diligently improving the ethical standards for primate research procedures is not, by itself, sufficient to prevent attacks. It is encouraging, for example, that on February 22, 2008, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge issued a restraining order against the Animal Liberation Brigade, the Animal Liberation Front, and UCLA Primate Freedom Project that created a protective buffer zone around the homes of UCLA research faculty members.

These terrorist acts might intimidate people and institutions that would otherwise speak out in support of nonhuman primate research and against terrorism. By failing to take public action, we contribute to the isolation of the scientists involved and the institutions in which they work. Frustration with the absence of a vigorous public response to recent terrorist attacks led Robert Palazzo, president of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology in Bethesda, Maryland to ask “Where’s the noise on this?” (1). Several organizations, such as the Society for Neuroscience (http://www.sfn.org), the National Association for Biomedical Research (http://www.nabr.org), and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (http://www.acnp.org), are helping to educate the public on these issues. There are growing opportunities for animal research advocacy. The failure to publicly address the crimes against its faculty was initially a problem at UCLA, but this institution now is at the vanguard of protecting its scientists and speaking out on behalf of medical research (1). In addition, the Society for Neuroscience has issued a report on “Best Practices for Protecting Researchers and Research” to assist investigators and institutions targeted by terrorists (http://www.sfn.org/skins/main/pdf/gpa/Best_Practices_for_Protecting.pdf).

We seek a more vigorous investigation and prosecution of the criminals committing the crimes against these scientists, their staffs, their families, their neighbors, and the communities in which they live. We are heartened that stronger laws enacted in the United States and the United Kingdom provide enforcement agencies with legal tools needed to bring these offenders to justice (1). The United Kingdom is ahead of the United States in this regard. As reported in Science, the United Kingdom formed a National Extremism Tactical Coordination Unit in 2004. This unit helped to conduct a 2-year investigation involving more than 700 police, which resulted in raids in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Belgium and the arrest of 30 suspected terrorists. There seem to be signs that the vigorous prosecution of terrorism in the United Kingdom is having a positive effect (3). However, the number of attacks on scientists conducting medical research in animals in the United States is increasing (1), and we need to mount an equally vigorous campaign in this country to prevent these heinous attacks.

Lastly, we wish to laud the dedication and courage shown by Dr. London and those like her that continue to strive to reduce suffering and advance science despite obvious personal cost. As the beneficiaries of progress in medical care, it is also our responsibility to join the struggle to preserve medical research.

This article was not prepared with support from any funding agency or within the context of any official capacity. The opinions expressed herein are solely the private personal opinions of the authors and do not indicate any official institutional (university, government agencies, private foundations) position. Financial disclosures for the contributing authors are presented online as supplementary material.

Supplementary data

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Supplementary data.

References

1. 1Miller G. Animal extremists get personal. Science. 2007;318:1856–1858. CrossRef

2. 2Cyranoski D. Animal research: Primates in the frame. Nature. 2006;444:812–813. CrossRef

3. 3Fighting animal rights terrorism. Nat Neurosci. 2006;9:1195;Anonymous. MEDLINE | CrossRef

a Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven

b Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven

c Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven

d Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven

e VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut

f Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas

g Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas

h Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas

i Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders, The Scripps Research Institute, San Diego, La Jolla

j Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla

k Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of California, Davis, Davis

l Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis

m VA Veteran’s Integrated Service Networks 22 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Los Angeles, Los Angeles

n Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles

o Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles

p Department of Psychiatry, Center for Neurobiology and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco

q Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, Center for Neurobiology and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco

r Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto

s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California

t Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh

u Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh

v Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh

w Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh

x Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

y Medical Center, and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

z Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1 Laboratory of Molecular Pathophysiology and Experimental Therapeutics, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda

2 Genetic Basis of Mood and Anxiety Disorders Unit, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda

3 Unit on Affective Disorders, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda

4 Unit of Affective Psychophysiology, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda

5 Unit on Affective Cognitive Neuroscience, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda

6 Section on Developmental Genetic Epidemiology, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda

7 Section on Development and Affective Neuroscience, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda

8 Section on Neuroimaging, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda

9 Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, Section on Neuropathology, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda

10 Section on Integrative Neuroimaging, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda

11 Clinical Brain Disorders Branch, Behavioral Neuroscience Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda

12 Molecular Imaging Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda

13 Child Psychiatry Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda

14 Behavioral Endocrinology Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda

15 Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville

16 Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Neuroscience, and Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland

17 Mailman Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Belmont

18 McLean Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Belmont

19 Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Belmont

20 Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston

21 McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts

22 Department of Psychiatry, Yerkes National Primate Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

23 Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill

24 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina

25 Department of Psychiatry, Medical Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

26 Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

27 Department of Psychiatry, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan

28 Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana

29 Institute for Juvenile Research, Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

30 W.M. Keck Laboratory for Functional Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin

31 Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology & Neuroscience, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York

32 Department of Mental Health Services & Policy Research, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York

33 Department of Biological Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York

34 Division of Epidemiology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York

35 New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York

36 Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York

37 Department of Radiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York

38 Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York

39 Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York

40 Department of Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York

41 Department of Pharmacology & Systems Therapeutics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York

42 Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, New York

43 Department of Psychiatry, James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx

44 Departments of Psychiatry, and Neuroscience & Physiology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York

45 Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado

46 VISN19/MIRECC, Denver VA Medical Center, Denver, Colorado

47 Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee

48 Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee

49 Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee

50 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Washington

51 Harborview Center for Healthcare Improvement for Addictions, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington

52 Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri

53 Department of Psychiatry, Bipolar Disorder Research Center at Mood Disorders Program, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio

54 Department of Psychology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey

55 Center for Studies on Human Stress, Douglas Hospital Research Center and Montreal Neurological Institute, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

56 Neuropsychiatric Genetics Research Group, Department of Psychiatry and Institute of Molecular Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

57 Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Saitama, Japan

58 The Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London

59 Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge

60 Department of Psychological Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

61 Departments of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute for Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany

62 Private Practice, Bethesda, Maryland

Address reprint requests to John H. Krystal, M.D., Psychiatry Service (116-A), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Ave., West Haven, CT 06516

In the author list, individuals are listed alphabetically within their role for the Journal.

PII: S0006-3223(08)00295-3

doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.03.005

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