The UK government has unveiled a new £75 million strategy to accelerate the phase-out of animal testing in scientific research, setting out a clear roadmap for replacing existing experiments with cutting-edge alternatives such as organ-on-a-chip systems, artificial intelligence models and 3D bioprinting of human tissue.
Science Minister Lord Vallance announced the plan on Tuesday, calling it a “roadmap for innovation and compassion” that will help Britain become a world leader in non-animal testing methods. The initiative will help scientists and regulators introduce validated alternatives without compromising safety in areas such as medicine, vaccines and chemical testing.
The strategy includes ambitious milestones. By the end of 2026, the government plans to eliminate animal testing to study skin and eye irritation and skin sensitization. By 2027, Botox effectiveness tests on mice and certain contamination controls on human medicines are to be replaced by DNA-based methods. By 2030, the use of dogs and non-human primates in pharmacokinetic studies, which examine how drugs move through the body, will be significantly reduced.
The funding will create two large national centers: one focused on data sharing and collaboration between researchers and another dedicated to streamlining regulatory approval for new non-animal testing methods. A further £15.9 million from the Medical Research Council, Innovate UK and the Wellcome Trust will support “in vitro human” disease models, including research into the liver, brain, cancer, pain and blood vessels.
Lord Vallance said the UK plan would “end animal testing wherever possible and introduce alternatives as soon as it is safe and effective.” Animal Welfare Minister Baroness Hayman welcomed the move as “a major step forward for animal welfare and scientific innovation”.
The National Center for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) will play a central role in implementing the plan. Your managing director, Dr. Vicky Robinson, described the roadmap as “ambitious” and a crucial step in ensuring the UK retains its global leadership in ethics science.
The strategy has been widely welcomed in the scientific and animal welfare communities. The RSPCA said it showed “a clear commitment to eliminating the use of animals”, while the British Pharmaceutical Industry Association (ABPI) praised the government’s support for research that ensures patient safety while advancing humane science.
However, experts also warned that animal testing will continue to be necessary in some areas until alternatives are fully validated. Dr. Nicola Perrin, chief executive of the Association of Medical Research Charities, said: “It is important that we continue to use animals where no other options are available, while doing all we can to advance alternatives.”
The plan will be overseen by a cross-departmental committee chaired by Lord Vallance. Key performance indicators will be released next year to track progress. If successful, it could pave the way for Britain to become a world leader in ethical high-tech life science and achieve breakthroughs in medicine, while ensuring that animal testing becomes increasingly obsolete.
