• Question: Do you ever have to relate your work to animals? Eg. testing or curing...

    Asked by chloeharris to Dominic, Maedeh, Matthew, Matt, Monica on 8 Mar 2016. This question was also asked by EvanG24.
    • Photo: Matthew Oldfield

      Matthew Oldfield answered on 8 Mar 2016:

      The project I am working on has now started to look at the need to tests on animals in the future. When planning these tests the aim is to do as few as possible and minimise the trauma to the animals themselves. I wish we didn’t have to, but to get a device like our steerable needle approved for use on humans the animal trials can’t be avoided.

      In theory, the steerable needle could be used to treat animals too. However it is quite unlikely that it would be for now.

    • Photo: Monica Rozeik

      Monica Rozeik answered on 9 Mar 2016:

      I am still in the early stages of testing because I’m working on a new valve and that can take a long time to develop. Once I’m happy with my design though, and I’ve done all the testing in the lab, these valves have to be tested in an animal before they’re allowed to be tested in a human.

      Animal testing is very strict, you need a special license and you have to make sure the animal is as safe as possible.

    • Photo: Matthew Round

      Matthew Round answered on 10 Mar 2016:

      I do all my testing on humans *evil doctor laugh*

    • Photo: Dominic Eggbeer

      Dominic Eggbeer answered on 18 Mar 2016:

      Like Matt R, my work is done on humans.

      The principles of what I’ve helped to develop could be used to help animals though.

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