WABR was founded a decade ago to educate the public on the value of biomedical research for the health of both humans and animals. The past ten years have been a magnificent implementation of that goal.
Biomedical research is a commitment to life.
Much remains to be done. The Washington Association for Biomedical Research is a non-profit educational consortium created in 1988 to foster understanding of the benefits of biomedical research to humans and animals, and the necessity for the humane use of animals in such research. Americans have become so accustomed to enjoying long, healthy lives that they take medical miracles for granted. They tend to forget that animal studies were necessary to vanquish polio, treat diabetes, and make organ transplants possible, and that continued animal research will be necessary to find cures for AIDS, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. It is critical that the citizens of Washington state understand the facts, evaluate the choices available, and have the opportunity to engage in serious and thoughtful discussions about the issues surrounding the use of animals in research.