IT’S NOT NAMS VERSUS ANIMAL RESEARCH: DEBUNKING KEY MISINFORMATION IN NEUROSCIENCE

Misinformation has always existed, but the boom of social media and the dawn of artificial intelligence have radically changed how misinformation is generated and shared, creating an environment of higher public susceptibility. This is particularly important in the ethically sensitive subject of the use of animals in neuroscience, especially non-human primates, which have high cognition and sentience, given the potential impact on public opinion and support for research.
In this talk, the European Animal Research Association (EARA) draws from the team’s collective experience in communicating about animal research and new approach methodologies (NAMs) to highlight key misinformation and suggest narratives to tackle misinformation spread on social media about the use of animals in neuroscience and the current development and promise of NAMs such as brain organoids.
Additionally, EARA proposes communication and public engagement initiatives that contribute to improving public understanding of neuroscience research and can be applied at the individual and institutional levels. Initiatives include participation in BOARD – Be Open about Animal Research Day, a global social media campaign that will take place during FENS 2026 and will address a commonly spread, misleading and polarising message that portrays animal research and NAMs as competing rather than complementary.
Researchers’ public engagement is key to informing the public about how ethical research in neuroscience is conducted and its societal impact and will help maintain essential public support and funding for research. This talk is a call to action for all neuroscientists to participate in the public discussion at this crucial time.