Shows
GetReal!Unconscious ConfoundsSend us a textWelcome to episode 32 of GetReal! I’m Dr. Cindy Buckmaster, your host for GetReal! and today we’re going to talk about the confound in biomedical research with animals that no one is talking about - the impact of anesthesia on study outcomes. Are findings from studies involving anesthesia always reliable? Dr. Colin Dunlop, a well known veterinary anesthesiologist and established expert in the field will share the RAW Truth with us today…on GetReal! Support the show2025-01-2934 min
cc: Life Science PodcastThe 3 Rs and the Role of Small Animals in ResearchReduce. Refine. Replace. These are the three Rs of animal research. The intent is to reduce the number of animals used, refine methods to be efficient and humane and replace animals with other models where possible.This cc: Life Science episode is sponsored content, courtesy of MediLumine.I talked to Stephen Marchant, Founder and CEO of MediLumine about the importance of animal research, how imaging in small animals is different from humans and innovations that support the 3Rs of laboratory animal sciences. While the FDA no longer requires the testing of all new drug...2024-04-1026 minGetReal!The Dose Makes the PoisonSend us a textToday we stop ignoring the truth about how new treatments make it to our medicine cabinets and face the hard facts…together...on GetReal! Support the show2024-01-3146 minGetReal!TCD - It's Not Just SemanticsSend us a textThere’s no such thing as compassion fatigue and we should drop it from our vocabulary immediately! This term, along with most of the others used to describe the emotions we battle when working with research animals, just makes things worse. Confused? Our guest from the Two Truths episode, Lisa Kelly, returns today to spell it out for us…on GetReal!Support the show2023-11-2936 min
Easy For Animals PodcastCindy Buckmaster | Transparency, Communication, and Non-Animal ResearchCindy Buckmaster has a PhD in Neurobiology and Behavior and has worked in research and laboratory animal science for nearly 30 years. Cindy is also the host of the Get Real podcast which lays out the facts so you have the power to make informed decisions about the future health of your loved ones - both people and animals.
You can find Cindy on Instagram, Facebook, and X.
Our theme music is 'Wicked Game' by Japanese Heart Software.
You can read a transcript of this episode at Easy for Animals.2023-10-2644 minGetReal!Protecting More Than Our HealthSend us a textYou may find this surprising, but biomedical research with animals isn’t only necessary for improving human and animal lives. It’s also critical for protecting our food supply and our economy. How so? Dr. Maggie Behnke, Attending Veterinarian for the USDA National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, joins us today to lay out the facts…on GetReal!Support the show2023-10-2530 minGetReal!Is it love or conflict fundraising?Send us a textIs love for animals what truly drives the animal rights movement? How did this movement begin and what is its ultimate goal? Patti Strand, President and Founder of the National Animal Interest Alliance, has been studying this movement and sharing her findings publicly for decades. She’ll break it all down for us today…on GetReal!Support the show2023-09-2943 minGetReal!Sanctuary Straight TalkSend us a textGroups opposed to research with animals insist that studies with monkeys are irrelevant to human health and disease, and that all of these animals should be retired to sanctuaries. Those who believe these groups consider this to be a perfect plan; but is it? Surely a sanctuary would be an ideal place for retired research monkeys to spend the rest of their lives; but would it? Scott Kubisch, Director and Founder of Peaceable Primates Sanctuary, will lay out the facts for us today…on GetReal!Support the show2023-08-1643 minGetReal!Let's Shake On It!Send us a textThere’s a lot of discussion these days about the “reproducibility crisis” in science and how that may be delaying the medical advances we seek for ourselves and our loved ones. Today we’re going to talk about what may be the number one reason for why more than half of the research findings from animal studies are questionable. The animals on study are hardly ever as healthy as we think. And you can’t get clean results from dirty research models. How did we get here and what’s the solution moving forward? Dr...2023-06-1426 minGetReal!X DiscriminationSend us a textToday we’ll catch up with Trina who lost her beautiful boy, Austin, to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy two years ago. It turns out that her journey with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy isn’t over yet because, contrary to popular belief, girls and women are also affected by this devastating and deadly disease. But the scientific and medical communities have ignored this fact for decades. Well, Trina has had enough! And she’s on a mission to put girls and women with this rare disease on the research calendar. We’ll discuss this and more with her...2023-05-0336 minGetReal!RAW Truth 7: AMI Saves LivesSend us a textBreeding research mice responsibly is not as easy as it sounds. Every day, animal lives are wasted and biomedical discovery is compromised because colony management has simply become too complex for human beings to do well. So…we should STOP DOING IT! Our partners at Transnetyx have developed tools that are available right now that make our critical research with rodents less wasteful, more productive…and more meaningful. We’ll learn about some of them from Bob Bean and Jessie Janeczek today on GetReal! Support the show2023-03-2931 minGetReal!RAW Truth 6: Wasted Money, Wasted LivesSend us a textWhat would you do if you worked with research animals and you were certain they could receive better care than they were getting? A lot of people would probably just get frustrated and complain about it. They might even feel hopeless enough to resign. But what if you could find better ways for folks to care for their animals and their science, and actually help them change things for the better? Would you find the time to do that for your organization? What about the entire research community? Our guest today is Gennifer...2023-02-1527 min
Animal TalesEPISODE 3: Transparency and Truth about Animals in Medical ResearchHeidi’s guest on this very insightful episode is Dr. Cindy Buckmaster, who holds a PHD in Neurobiology, and has over 25 years of experience in nearly every aspect of animal research. Impressively, she has the courage and conviction to be transparent about all of it! Listen in as Dr. Buckmaster pulls back the curtain on the animals involved in medical research. You will also hear about Homes for Animal Heroes, a program dedicated to rehoming retired research animals.
Be sure to check out Dr. Buckmaster’s GetReal! Podcast to listen in, and also to learn more about her...2023-01-0340 minGetReal!Fewer Dogs, Better Drugs?Send us a textThe fate of dogs in classic biomedical research studies is more questionable than ever. So, what are our options? Can we keep up with the demand for new treatments with fewer dogs in biomedical research? Our guest today is Dr. Veronica Maldonado. Dr. Maldonado is an ACLAM Boarded Laboratory Animal Veterinarian with a PhD in Immunology who has worked directly with animals involved in drug development for over 25 years. She’s passionate about caring for research animals, but she’s equally passionate about finding ways to reduce the need for them in biomedical stud...2022-12-2818 minGetReal!Right Target, Right TimeSend us a textThe final inspection report by the USDA on May 3, 2022 revealed no serious animal health concerns at the Envigo/Inotiv research dog breeding facility in Cumberland, VA. So why did they close and how might this impact public health moving forward? Joining us today is a member of the Inotiv team who will share the details no one has been able to access until now...on GetReal!Support the show2022-11-3041 minGetReal!Weaponized TransparencySend us a textIs it possible that thousands of Americans have been programmed to harm themselves and everyone they love without realizing it? Are they fighting passionately for something that’s actually an illusion - an illusion deliberately designed to exploit their natural love of animals - for the personal gain of those directing them? Tom Leach, an attorney and leader in research advocacy and education, joins us today to help me break it down for you on today’s episode of GetReal! Support the show2022-10-1540 minGetReal!Replacing Animals in ResearchSend us a textWhy we are we still doing research with animals when there are several human relevant, non-animal alternatives available to us right now that can be used to develop new medical treatments? Dr. Megan LaFollette, Program Director of the North American 3Rs Collaborative, breaks it down for us on today’s episode…of GetReal!Support the show2022-08-3133 min
Zoo LogicAnimals in Biomedical Research TodayGiven the lack of familiarity on the current state of animals in research combined with deliberate misinformation by animal rights organizations, it's no wonder people have doubts about the use of animals for biomedical studies. Dr Cindy Buckmaster, Director of Public Outreach for the National Animal Interest Alliance and host of the podcast, GetReal! describes why animals are still necessary to develop therapeutic solutions for human and animal diseases. She also discusses the various levels of oversight for animals in research as well as the multidisciplinary approach to ensure the best possible husbandry care and welfare for animals. ...2022-08-1136 minGetReal!RAW Truth 5: Put Your Money Where Your Mouse Is!Send us a textOver 95% of the animals we rely on for medical advances are rodents and most of them live, and are studied, in stressful environments that compromise our ability to learn from them. Investigations by animal welfare scientists reveal that research rodents are typically CRAMPED: Cold, Rotund, Abnormal, Male-biased, Poorly surviving, Enclosed, and Distressed. And it has been suggested that this may partly explain why studies with rodents don’t translate as wel...2022-07-2731 minGetReal!The Hamster Wheel of ScienceSend us a textWhy are biomedical researchers under so much pressure to produce, produce, produce? And does this pressure accelerate or delay meaningful progress for new treatments and cures? Our guest today came to us through the GetReal! website. She is a PhD student of cancer immunology who has a lot to share about her concerns, frustrations...and her hope for the future of medical advances requiring research with animals. Gloves off, animal lovers. It's time to tell it like it is.Support the show2022-06-2928 minGetReal!RAW Truth 4: Checklists, Communication and CuresSend us a textOnly five percent of the drugs developed and tested with animals actually make it to market. Groups that oppose research with animals continue to tell lawmakers and the general public that this is no surprise because animals are worthless as models for the human condition? They argue that we are just too different from nonhuman animals for anything of medical value to translate to people. And they insist that we can learn all there is to know to treat and cure disease in people by using non-animal technologies that are more “human relevant”. But...2022-05-2540 minGetReal!Of Mice, Pigs, Sea Lions...and MenSend us a textToday we’ll discuss climate change, biotoxins, marine life, and how this all came together in the incredible and heart-warming story of Cronutt, the intractably epileptic sea lion. It’s a story of exploration, perseverance and love. And it’s a story of hope - brought to us and everyone we love - by decades of foundational and translational research with animals.Support the show2022-04-2745 minGetReal!RAW Truth 3: Sleeping with the Enemy of ScienceSend us a textThe vast majority of animals involved in biomedical research studies today are rodents, mainly mice. And the scientific information that comes from most of them is questionable because of a source of variability that is often overlooked by the research community - the bedding in their cages. Joining us today to break down the 'what', 'why' and 'what can be done' to protect rigor and reproducibility at the cage level is Joel Shepherd, an expert in rodent bedding manufacturing who has worked closely with the biomedical research community for over thirty years.2022-03-3024 minGetReal!Dangerous GameSend us a textDo you know anyone struggling with Alzheimer's Disease (AD)? Any friends or family? The chances are high that you do. One in nine Americans over 65 suffer with AD currently and case numbers continue to rise each year. This is not surprising, given that the number of Americans over 65 is also rising annually. But did you know that women are almost twice as likely as men to develop this devastating disease? Women also tend to experience more severe symptoms than men. What is behind these sex differences, and how may understanding the complex biological...2022-02-2343 minGetReal!RAW Truth 2: Shift HappensSend us a textOver 95% of the animals involved in biomedical research are mice. These animals are incredibly important models for human disease because 85% of the genes that drive biological function in people and mice are identical, so genetic contributions to human disease can be strongly inferred by manipulating mouse genes. Large litters and short lifespans (about 2 years) also give us a unique opportunity to study disease and age progression across hundreds of mice in a single study. It's hard to overstate the value of research mice for understanding health and disease in people and other animals...2022-01-2621 minGetReal!RAW Truth 1: Stressed Animals - Shaky ScienceSend us a textAbout half of the studies published from research with animals are questionable because they can't be replicated. The research community has been trying to rein this unacceptable manifestation of sloppy science practices in for over a decade with limited success. A good deal of focus has been placed on strong, unbiased study design and complete, transparent reporting of findings. But no one is talking about the most central feature of all of these studies - the research animals themselves. How do their personal experiences and welfare impact research findings and contribute to this...2021-12-2925 minGetReal!Our Common VisionSend us a text1. We will be clear about when, how and why we use animals in research. 2. We will enhance our communications with the media and the public about our research using animals. 3. We will be proactive in providing opportunities for the public to find out about research using animals. 4. We will report on progress annually and share our experiences.These commitments to transparent, open communication with the public about animal research were launched in the UK by Understanding Animal Research in 2014. There are currently 127 signatories across every sector of r...2021-11-2451 minGetReal!Full Transparency or BustSend us a textI am a firm believer in transparency - in all things, but especially biomedical research with animals. Animals didn’t sign up for their involvement in this work and the people who love them are constantly asking for explanations that are answered by special interest groups that oppose research with animals, no matter the cost to us and our loved ones. Most of the information shared by these groups is misleading or entirely fabricated. And while they spread false narratives about the need for animals in research and how they are treated, the re...2021-10-2933 minGetReal!The DMD Heroes of Texas A&MSend us a textTexas A&M University has endured several years of harassment and intimidation by PETA and their followers, including Sir Paul McCartney, based on claims made by PETA about how dogs involved in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) research are treated at this university. And, while many of us support research aimed at improving the lives of children and dogs affected by this devastating and terminal disease, we are also animal lovers who struggle in our hearts with what we've been told by PETA. I think concerns about animal welfare in research are both legitimate...2021-09-2941 minGetReal!Can Love Be Immoral?Send us a textIs it ethical to do biomedical research with animals to improve the health of others? People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and other groups that oppose studies of this kind, are unequivocal in their belief that it is not. These groups continue to have a powerful influence over the feelings and beliefs of millions of people worldwide, including celebrities, lawmakers, educators, and media reporters with their own spheres of influence over public opinion. And their guidance may not serve us all equally. Our guests today are Trina and Pam, both mothers...2021-08-2541 min
Lab Rat Chat23. Getting Real with Cindy BuckmasterSend us a textLab Rat Chat - Episode 23 with Dr. Cindy BuckmasterPurchase Lab Rat Chat merch and help support our podcast and biomedical research!https://labratchat.myteespring.co/In this episode of Lab Rat Chat, Logan and Jeff chat with Cindy Buckmaster, who has been involved in the field of laboratory animal science for over 25 years. She is involved in educational and public outreach organizations while frequently speaking to the media because of her in-depth knowledge and passion for research animals and laboratory animal care...2021-07-3140 minGetReal!Beliefs, Actions, and ConsequencesSend us a textMost of us love animals. So, when someone tells us that animals are being tormented for pointless experiments, by monsters who view them as objects rather than the precious, living beings they are, we get angry! And we take whatever action we can to stop them. But what if none of that is really true? What if research with animals is not pointless. What if research animals are, actually, treated with compassion, respect and gratitude? What if our love for animals has been exploited to manipulate us to carry out the...2021-07-2146 minGetReal!Addiction: a choice or a trap?Send us a textMillions of Americans struggle with substance abuse - at great cost to themselves, their loved ones, and society overall. It's a huge burden that we can't address effectively until we can characterize it fully. Is addiction a choice-based societal problem? Or is it a biologically driven health crisis? And how can research with animals inform therapeutic strategies for what seems to be a purely human phenomenon? Joining us today to discuss this and more is Dr. Edythe London, a pioneer in addiction research and treatment strategies, who continues to risk her own personal...2021-06-2332 minGetReal!Roadmap to Mental HealthSend us a textIn observance of National Mental Health Awareness Month, we honor Dr. Elisabeth Murray for her foundational brain research with monkeys, and counter PETA's claims about her pioneering work...with the facts. Thank you, Dr. Elisabeth Murray!Support the show2021-05-2640 minGetReal!Hope IS EssentialSend us a textIs research on one disease more essential than another? Or do they all matter? What is the relevance of "basic research" in developing treatments and cures for every disease? Today we will join Liviya and Brian Anderson on a breathtaking family journey across ten years of living with, what one doctor called, Liviya's "sleeping demon". We'll experience a range of emotions together, but none as strongly as...hope.Support the show2021-04-2132 minLab Rat ChatNews Bite - March 2021Send us a textNews Bites are monthly episodes where Danielle and Jeff break down important topics surrounding the field of biomedical research (and maybe some unrelated topics as well).Purchase Lab Rat Chat merch and help support the podcast and biomedical research!https://labratchat.myteespring.co/In this edition of News Bites, Jeff and Danielle discuss:Jeff's third year of vet school A new and exciting podcast about animal research - GetReal! Podcast by Dr. Cindy BuckmasterThe PRIM&R 2021 IACUC Virtual C...2021-03-2527 minGetReal!Two TruthsSend us a textOur guest today is Lisa Kelly, a good friend and colleague of mine with a gift for sharing deep truths in powerfully engaging and thought provoking ways. Prepare yourself for some serious introspection as Lisa shares the personal struggles and epiphanies that shaped her intense need to understand the different flavors of compassion fatigue experienced by laboratory animal professionals and other caregivers as they, selflessly, serve others. Support the show2021-03-2441 minGetReal!Invisible HeroesSend us a textAre you or someone you love struggling with an incurable disease like Parkinson's, or ALS, or Alzheimer's, or cancer? Did you know that when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and businesses were asked to shut down to accommodate social distancing, that research institutions also shut down? They did. So, what do you think happened to those ongoing, essential studies related to your incurable disease? And what do you think happened to the animals who were contributing to those essential studies related to your disease? Today, we'll learn about it directly from the COVID-19 heroes...2021-02-2428 minGetReal!GetReal! Podcast TrailerSend us a textA podcast hosted by Dr. Cindy Buckmaster and the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA) dedicated to open discussion about animal research: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Cindy explores the deep truths, so we can make compassionate choices for people and animals to shape our medical future together.Support the show2021-02-0101 min
17 Minutes of ScienceEpisode 5: The Operational and Emotional Impacts of COVID-19 (with Cindy Buckmaster)This week on 17 Minutes of Science Sarah Cheesman talks with Cindy Buckmaster - the director of Public Outreach at the National Animal Interest Alliance and President of the Texas Society for Biomedical Research. Cindy Buckmaster is a seasoned compassion speaker and we are very excited to have her on our show to discuss the operational and emotional impact of COVID-19 on biomedical research.
Tune in to learn more!2021-01-1418 min
Legal Drugs Podcast20. Honoring the Role of Laboratory Animals in COVID19 Research with Dr. Cindy BuckmasterThe new #COVID19 corona virus pandemic has changed the world as we knew it in many ways. As scientists and government regulatory bodies rush to find a cure, treatment or therapy for those infected and affected by this new disease, we pause to reflect on the role that laboratory animals will play in bringing a new legal drug to market. While there may be exceptions to the rule (such as in the case of state legalized marijuana in the United States), legal drugs don’t hit the market without extensive safety and efficacy testing in animal models. Anim...2020-04-2000 min
Outbreak News InterviewsAnimal research: The benefits, the regulations and the realityTens of millions of animals are used for scientific and commercial research in the US that benefits humans and animals alike. Despite the obvious benefits, animal research draws much criticism in some circles with the most common argument revolving around the case that it is cruel and inhumane. Director, Center for Comparative Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine, Cindy Buckmaster, PhD joined me to look at the whats behind the scenes with animal research and some of the arguments, pro and con. Dr Buckmaster discussed how animal research benefits human health, your pet's health...2017-12-1643 min