UCLA Researcher Targeted by Animal Rights Activist

Animal rights activists have claimed responsibility for sending a package of razor blades to a UCLA researcher involved in animal studies. The Animal Liberation Front issued a statement yesterday saying that a group calling itself "The Justice Department of UCLA" had taken responsibility for the action, claiming the razors were laced with AIDS-infected blood. The animal rights group says the action was inspired by UCLA investigator David Jentsch's work injecting addictive drugs into rodents.Activists claim they sent razor blades laced with AIDS-infected blood.

The NIH has been a longtime backer of Jentsch's lab work. The scientist has been probing the chemical reactions that cause meth addiction, with additional work on speech disabilities and schizophrenia. This is the latest in a string of incidents involving researchers at UCLA who are targeted for harassment by animal rights groups. Jentsch, though, shows no signs of backing down.

"Responsible use of animals in research aimed at improving the health and welfare of the mentally ill is the right thing to do," Jentsch said in a statement. "We will continue to do so because we have a moral responsibility to society to use our skills for the betterment of the world."

Read the article in the L.A. Times.