One of the most respected and controversial scientists in the country last night defended the use of animals for medical research.

Professor Colin Blakemore, a long-time advocate of animal testing, outlined how current studies could lead to new therapies for brain disorders including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Speaking to around 200 academics at Newcastle's Centre for Life, he said the study of the brain was still at a very early stage, but was already showing signs towards potential breakthroughs.

Prof Blakemore, a neuroscientist whose family have been subjected to threats from animal rights activists, is also chief executive of the Medical Research Council.

He took time to praise the facilities at both the Centre for Life and the University of Newcastle.

He said: "I've had a busy day looking round the amazing facilities at the university. This centre's reputation is both nationwide and worldwide, and is a much deserved-reputation."

He outlined studies elsewhere, including one where mice were injected with the human gene that causes Huntingdon's Disease, and those in improved living conditions survived longer.

"We hope the work is leading us to potentially new therapies," he added.

Prof Blakemore said the country needed to understand the brain better, with Britain's increasingly elderly population more susceptible to neurological disorders.

He said: "The brain is the most complex structure that we know of in the universe. The great hope is that we will be able to bootstrap ourselves up to some knowledge of how it works.

"There is a rapidly approaching time in the demography of society that tells us we need to pay attention to the brain. The likes of strokes, Alzheimer's and motor neurone disease are increasing in incidence as people live longer."