CAMPAIGNERS have renewed criticism of a North-East university after it published the results of experiments on live baboons.

Two years ago the British Union of Anti Vivisectionists (BUAV) criticised researchers from Newcastle University who travelled to Kenya, in Africa, in order to carry out experiments on live baboons.

It followed an investigation by BUAV which uncovered the capture and use of wild baboons in research. BUAV supporters also secretly filmed some of the experiments.

At that time the BUAV accused the university of going to Kenya to evade the ban on such experiments in the UK and published images of baboons undergoing fatal brain surgery.

Shortly after the criticism Newcastle University announced it was ending its experiments on live baboons in Kenya.

But the recent publication of a scientific paper by Newcastle University, based on the Kenya experiments, has re-ignited the row.

The paper, ‘Blocking central pathways in the primate motor system using high frequency sinusoidal current’ was published online in the Journal of Neurophysiology.

Dr Jarrod Bailey, senior research scientist at the BUAV said: “While the university rightly put an end to this after BUAV’s exposé, its recent publication of those experiments serves not only to remind us of the terrible nature of the research, but also to demonstrate the university’s lack of concern over it.”

The research paper reveals that five healthy baboons underwent fatal brain surgery, their skulls were cut open and electrodes inserted into their brains and spinal cords.

The BUAV believes such experiments are unnecessary.

The BUAV is now calling on the Kenyan government to ban the capture and use of wild primates for research.

Professor Paul Flecknell from Newcastle University, said: “We follow best practice in reducing stress to the animals before, after and during testing.

“Veterinary care is available at all times and a veterinary surgeon takes responsibility for the animals during and after surgical procedures. Veterinary staff are also involved in the daily care of the animals.

“BUAV are incorrect in their statement that we claimed that the monkeys did not suffer. However, we work very hard to reduce any distress that is caused by our research.”

A spokeswoman for Newcastle University said baboons are considered as ‘pests’ locally and are routinely shot or trapped. The animals used by the Newcastle researchers were used rapidly and under general anaesthesia.

Current and future published papers relating to the work in Kenya “are not the result of further animal testing in this locality. This is research that had already been completed and any decision not to publish the results would be unethical,” she added.