Boffins back testing.

Byline: By Guy Basnett

Scientists and academics from the North-East pledged their support yesterday for continued experiments on live animals.

The pledge came as fears continue to grow over the increasingly violent campaigns waged by small, militant groups of animal rights activists.

Despite the concerns, more than 500 UK scientists ( including six from Newcastle University ( signed a formal declaration supporting vivisection. And the North's foremost genetic scientist, Professor John Burn, insisted animal experiments are crucial to understanding a raft of human diseases.

Prof Burn, head of the Newcastle Centre for Life Institute of Human Genetics, said: "We think what we are doing is right and must have the courage of our convictions." However, his views were under fire last night as animal rights groups insisted experimentation is "unethical" and can involve "severe cruelty".

And another Newcastle University academic, Dr Jarrod Bailey, also insisted the practice of vivisection for medical research is flawed.

Dr Bailey, from Corbridge, claimed it was slowing scientific progress.

The declaration, which repeats a similar one signed 15 years ago, was published by the Research Defence Society and described vivisections as "vital".

Prof Burn whose work includes researching genetic malformation, cancer prevention and child muscular dystrophy, said: "If we could do it with cells in a petri dish or by blood samples, we would."

Prof Burn said his work relies on breeding mice, small zebra fish and a species of worm, helping to identify the jigsaw of genes that fit together.

He said: "We need to learn about how genes switch on and off, and we need to have access to animal research to solve that problem."

He said regulations ensured animals were treated humanely.