What are some of the ethical issues that you are grappling with in your research? What are some of the ways in which you are responding to these questions?
Ethical issues are definitely something I think about often in this research. Working with non-human primates raises serious questions about consent and the impact on the animals. These are highly intelligent, social creatures, and it’s important to recognize that they’re not just tools for data. They are also living beings with needs and experiences. One of the main ways I try to respond to these questions is by learning as much as I can about how the monkeys are treated, how protocols are approved, and what kinds of enrichment and care are in place. At Columbia, the animals are housed under strict guidelines, given enrichment, social time, and regular health monitoring. There are also checks in place, like IACUC approval, to make sure that the research is justified and the animals’ welfare is prioritized as much as possible. But even then, the question of whether it’s ever going to be ethical still remains.
As you continue your research, have you considered alternative viewpoints in your investigation? If so, how have these alternative viewpoints enriched or changed your project?
I’ve also been trying to think through alternative viewpoints. Some people argue that any invasive research on primates is unethical, no matter how careful we are. Others believe the knowledge we gain, like how the cerebellum might be involved in memory or how we can help stroke patients regain motor function, can justify the methods, especially if it leads to real-world medical benefits. These views challenge me to keep asking myself why we’re doing what we’re doing, and whether the benefits truly outweigh the costs. Even if I stay in this field, I think it’s important not to get too comfortable with the ethics. Questioning things should be part of the work.
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The ethical questions and components of this research is super fascinating, as animal rights law (especially in experimentation) is something that I have dived deeply into while working for Assemblywoman Deborah Glick (who chairs the environmental conservation committee). There is currently a lot of legislation in the environmental conservation committee pertaining to animal testing (and the laws which prohibit testing on certain animals but exempt other species which are commonly used for genetic and product testing). Super fascinating stuff and lots or literature on it, happy to talk more if your interested.
"Questioning things should be part of the work" is such a great way to frame your approach to research! What’s ethical or unethical can be so nebulous, and it really is difficult to decide who gets to arbitrate these discussions. Another question that I think naturally follows from everything you’ve mentioned is: can we justify the costs when the possible benefit might never materialize? It seems like so many scientific discoveries have happened by chance, but how do we continue work that may not show any real benefit for years on end, especially after huge costs have accumulated? This is just something that came to mind after reading your reflection, but I am so excited to see where your project will go!