April 7, 2011; Source: Pharma Times | If you happen to live in Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago or Baltimore, the Foundation for Biomedical Research (FBR) has a question for you. As part of a campaign that promotes the use of animals in medical research, the foundation is putting up billboards that feature a picture of a rat on one side and a smiling child on the other. The caption positioned between the two images asks, "Who would you rather see live?”

Foundation for Biomedical Research's "Who would you rather see live?” Billboard

Foundation for Biomedical Research's "Who would you rather see live?” billboard

The campaign, described as a multi-million effort, is meant to deliver the message that using animals to advance medical science saves lives, say FBR officials. The billboards, adds FBR President Frankie Trull, "ask people to consider an important ethical dilemma we face as a society: would you rather do away with animal research or have the new medical cures, treatments and therapies for which so many people desperately wait?"

The foundation claims in a statement that its ResearchSaves campaign, which is intended for anyone but the squeamish, has the support of "leading US academic institutions, non-profit organizations, hospitals, patient advocacy groups and healthcare corporations."—Bruce Trachtenberg