The Research Defence Society was a British scientific society and lobby group founded by Stephen Paget in 1908 to fight against the anti-vivisectionist "enemies of reason" at the beginning of the 20th century.
Its sources of funding changed over the hundred years that the society was active, and included individuals, government the pharmaceutical industry and universities.
[2] The organisation's literature stated that it was funded by its members, including medical scientists, doctors, veterinarians, pharmaceutical companies, research institutes, universities, and charities that support medical research.
[3] Its last executive director was Dr. Simon Festing, who became CEO of Understanding Animal Research.
Over 700 scientists, of whom 500 were British, signed the declaration in the first month, including three Nobel laureates, 190 Fellows of the Royal Society and the Medical Royal Colleges and over 250 academic professors.