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Animal Experiments

Asked by Anna GelderdLabourDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled Answered 20 May 2025UIN 51766

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to maintain the level of financial support for research to achieve the (a) replacement, (b) refinement and (c) reduction of animals in research and (d) develop non-animal alternatives.

Answered by Feryal Clark

The Government is committed to the development of non-animal alternatives. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has a diverse portfolio of investments that support research which can lead to alternatives, such as organ on a chip and computer modelling. They invest £10m annually to the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs). UKRI also supports ‘human-specific’ research, for example a £15m call on Novel human in vitro models of disease with NC3Rs and Wellcome.

The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year.

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