[robotresearcher]

> Say I have a theory that the brain is an unnecessary organ. Can I go around removing pig brains in the name of “neuroscience research” and get a free pass?

Of course there are proposal review processes for research involving animals, that considers the potential benefits versus the harm done.

> However, there are plenty of forms of “neuroscience research” [involving animals] that are objectively useless

Says who?

You may disagree with the standards and decisions of review processes, but they are ubiquitous today.