Members of the Society’s Science Committee recently participated in a consultation reviewing the strategies and activities of the Research Defence Society (RDS) and the Coalition for Medical Progress (CMP). Once all the responses were analysed, the review committee recognised the strengths of both RDS and CMP. However, they concluded that, in the present environment, with strong public and political support for the use of animals in research, a clear and sustainable new strategy is needed to continue to deliver impact and success for the institutional funders, partners and supporters of the two organisations. Their recommendation is that a new organisation be created under a new name, building on the strengths of both CMP and RDS and developing a coherent strategic approach. These recommendations have been welcomed and endorsed by both the Board of CMP and RDS Council. The respective boards have also agreed that planning for the new organisation should start as soon as possible, and that there should be a clear timetable for completing the transition. A transition Task Force has been appointed and met on 9 July 2008 to begin this work. Until the launch of the new organisation, both RDS and CMP will continue to deliver the 2008 programmes that were agreed with their respective members and supporters, and will look for ways to work even more closely together during the transition process. For further details of RDS and CMPs’ current activities, please click on the links below.

CMP website

RDS website