UW Cats for Research
I know that a lot of you have been worried about the animals that are held in captivity by people on this
campus, following PETA’s cat campaign. PETA has accused UW- Madison people of studying cats as
research in an inhumane way. This is the school’s response.
Posted on January 17, 2014 by Chancellor Blank
Recently, the University of Wisconsin–Madison has been on the receiving end of a harsh campaign that
criticizes our research using animal models. The critics are using a graphic picture, taken out of context,
blown up to billboard size, and displayed on Madison’s public buses to try to turn public opinion against
the valuable medical research conducted by faculty and staff at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
The campaign distorts the facts about our animal research, is inaccurate in its descriptions of how we
treat the animals, and does not recognize the value of this work to human and animal health. The
university has articulated a strong response to this campaign and will continue to do so. The research
referenced in the bus ads provides basic information essential to understanding how the brain integrates
auditory information, and helps develop technologies that benefit people who are hard of hearing. Basic
research like this has helped to develop hearing aid algorithms that improve speech understanding for
hard of hearing children in classrooms, has led to the creation of widely-used voice recognition systems,
and has been instrumental in understanding how to treat people who suffer from vertigo or balance
issues, among other benefits. The research is conducted responsibly and humanely. The animal subjects
are cared for and in good health. This has been confirmed by three separate, thorough federal inspections
over the last 18 to 24 months. None of the animals show signs of pain or dis