For the Media
Come See Our World (CSOW) is a project of Americans for Medical Progress (AMP). CSOW and AMP connect reporters with information, research contacts, pictures and videos to provide a current and accurate profile of the importance of animals in biomedical research and testing.
Reporters may reach us at media@amprogress.org or by calling (202) 624-8812.
CSOW Media Spokespersons
Paula Clifford, MLA, CVT, RLATG
Paula Clifford is the Executive Director for Americans for Medical Progress where she leads AMP’s advocacy efforts and its educational programs focused on developing the next generation of advocates. Her interests are focused on programs to enhance the transparency of research institutions and to empower those who work with research animals to comfortably and effectively talk about what they do and how it benefits people and animals.
Previously, she was the Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Society for Biomedical Research (PSBR), a state-based non-profit organization that provides educational programs for K-12 classrooms about the role of animals in research. Past professional roles include Vice President of Operations for Animal Care Training Services (ACTS), Training Manager at the University of Pennsylvania, and veterinary technician in both research and private practice settings.
Paula received a Master of Liberal Arts in Training Program Evaluation from the University of Pennsylvania, BA in biology from Rutgers and an AAS in veterinary technology from Camden County College. She is a Licensed Veterinary Technician and a Registered Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG).
Naomi Charalambakis, PhD
Naomi Charalambakis is AMP Director of Communications and Science Policy where she plays a key role in developing and implementing proactive and reactive communication strategies for issues affecting biomedical research. She also supports the research community through translating, advising and developing messages related to policies that affect the advancement of science in the United States.
Prior to her role at AMP, Naomi was the Associate Director of Science Policy for the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), a coalition of 22 scientific societies collectively representing over 110,000 individual biological and biomedical researchers. In this role, she led efforts of FASEB’s Science Policy Committee, guiding a broad range of policy discussions and coordinating with volunteers on future policy action opportunities. This included preparing comments to federal Requests for Information and Notices of Proposed Rulemaking. Additionally, Dr. Charalambakis led the Animals in Research and Education subcommittee, where she developed policy statements, tracked congressional legislation and agency directives related to animal use in federal research, and created resources for the lab animal community. Dr. Charalambakis launched her policy career at FASEB in November 2018, after graduating with her doctorate in Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology from the University of Louisville School of Medicine where she utilized mouse transgenics to evaluate the role of retinal input on inhibitory interneurons in the visual thalamus.
Cindy A. Buckmaster, PhD, CMAR, RLATG
Dr. Cindy Buckmaster is Chair of the Board of Directors for Americans for Medical Progress. She is also Director of the Center for Comparative Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine where she oversees one of the largest animal care and use programs in the country. Her involvement in the laboratory animal community spans a wide range of educational, advocacy, and public outreach initiatives. Buckmaster contributes regularly to the public outreach column for Lab Animal magazine, is an author on several scientific articles, and speaks often to audiences across the country and abroad. She is frequently interviewed by reporters about the issues involved in animal based research.
Her previous professional experience includes training researchers and animal care technicians about the humane care of laboratory animals, working with nonhuman primates to understand how various regions of the temporal lobe support learning and memory in primates, and teaching science to high school and college students.
Buckmaster holds Master’s Degree in Science Education and a PhD in Neurobiology and Behavior from Stony Brook University.
She is also a member of the National Animal Interest Alliance Board of Directors, the President of the Texas Society for Biomedical Research, a Past President of the Laboratory Animal Welfare Training Exchange, and Past President of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science.
Facts
Learn more about:
Americans for Medical Progress
Speaking of Research has a good overview of animal research in the United States in their Background Briefing on Animal Research.
Additional information about the contributions of animals to advancing medicine can be found in these fact sheets by our colleagues at the Foundation for Biomedical Research.
Explore all of our Amazing Animals!
Explore all of our Amazing Animals!
