WRUF AM 850, Gainesville FL

Animal Rights Accusations
24 April 2002

An animal rights group says the amount of animal research the University of Florida does is wrong - and costly.

Cincinnati-based Stop Animal Exploitation Now conducted an independent audit of the National Institutes of Health, and report that Florida alone wastes $61 million a year on redundant animal research.

Michael Budkie, executive director and author of the study, claims it's not the animal research that's upsetting them this time - it's the wasted tax money.

"There's a very high amount of duplication that's going on, to the point where in some instances, we're seeing the same projects done literally hundreds of times," Budkie said.

Budkie notes the number of experiements on animals also rose in 2001, almost a 40% increase over a 10-year period. And those projects cost a whopping $8.5 billion.

Budkie admits some might say the study is biased, considering his organization tries to stop animal exploitation. He counters that criticism, though, by pointing out the entire study is available online and can be duplicated.

University of Florida assistant director of Animal Care and Use, Robert Vomocka, defends the university against allegations their studies are redundant.

"It's the policy of the University of Florida to follow the federal guidelines exactly," Vomocka said. "One of the prime things we consider in animal research is to not do repetitive research. That would be redundant."