Vivisection Funding by Susan G. Komen for the Cure: My Response

Re: Your concern regarding Susan G. Komen for the Cure research funding
Friday, June 26, 2009 2:39 AM
From: "Tiffany Moon" View contact details
To: "HalaModdelmog"

Ms. Rowdan,

I appreciate that you've had to prepare and disseminate this information in response to the form letters in opposition to your support of the funding of research that exploits and tortures non-human animals. Certainly, this response is necessary for those who may not be aware of the scope of your organization or the requirements of the FDA; however, you have plainly failed to respond to the fundamental principal of the objection to your organization's direction of funding, that you are, in fact, supporting and providing for non-human animal vivisection.

That the FDA continues to require vivisection in the cases of medical research and most pharmaceuticals, regardless of ineffectual and irresponsible regulation by various government offices, is beyond the point of the objection to vivisection, and as long as scientific and medical industries fail to assertively dispute FDA requirements with the abundance of clear evidence that well-established alternatives to vivisection are not only more ethical but far more accurate than vivisection, these requirements will not be altered. It is as much the responsibility of your organization and industry as it is of the public to alter current laws regarding vivisection; meanwhile, that your organization continues to fund, directly or indirectly, vivisection, regardless of the nobility of the cause, is a choice, not a requirement. Any advancement in human understanding or cure of human disease at the expense of the mutilation and murder of millions of unwilling, non-human animals, is not an advancement for, but a detriment to, humanity; any cure at this expense is not a cure worth having.

Thank you for providing an explanation of your organization, its outreach, funding and procedure, as well as mention of the government agencies that oversee your industry. Please now act upon non-speciesist ethics, not upon requirement.



Tiffany D. Moon
Institute of Arts and Letters
www.studiotiffany.com
www.instituteofartsandletters.org
San Diego, CA
(858) 672-0611

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--- On Fri, 6/26/09, Moddelmog, Hala wrote:

From: Moddelmog, Hala
Subject: Your concern regarding Susan G. Komen for the Cure research funding
To: "T Moon"
Date: Friday, June 26, 2009, 12:47 AM

Thank you for reaching out to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and inquiring about
the use of animals in research. We respect your viewpoint on this issue and
hope that the following information addresses your questions.

While Susan G. Komen for the Cure does not conduct research, it does fund
innovative and responsive research projects in leading institutions
worldwide. Komen for the Cure has a long history of funding groundbreaking
research to fulfill its promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever.
Komen funds scientific research as well as community breast health education
and outreach programs across the country through our 122 Affiliates in the
U.S. Our research portfolio addresses areas such as prevention, survivorship,
cancer cell biology, and cancer etiology.

Komen has strict controls to maintain the integrity of the grant application
and review process. Komen's Grant Program adheres to a peer-review process
that is recognized by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). All research
funded by Komen's Grant Program is developed and conducted under the
direction of the primary investigator who is applying for the grant.

The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that any new
pharmaceutical compound be tested on at least two different animal models to
be considered for approval for use in humans. Therefore, some investigators
must conduct animal testing in order to comply with FDA regulations for drug
development. In order to be eligible for Komen research grant funding,
investigators must provide proof of pre-approval of study design and animal
care methods from the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at
the institution where they will be conducting research. In accordance with
U.S. federal law, the IACUC may permit some investigators to use laboratory
animals, usually genetically bred mice, in their search to identify more
effective ways to prevent and treat breast cancer. Researchers are also
required to file an Investigator Assurance Statement to ensure all procedures
are in compliance with National Institute of Health and (NIH) and U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations.

We hope this answers your questions. We respect your viewpoint on this issue
and thank you for sharing your concerns.

Sincerely,

Diana Rowden, Vice President of Health Sciences

Susan G. Komen for the Cure