<h1 style="text-align: left; font-size: 42px;">How Replacing Animal Research is shaping policy</h1>

A strategic approach to making a difference

We are delighted to share our strategic policy approach, where you can find out more about how we are working to engage with policymakers, civil servants and the public.

Our aim is to educate and raise awareness of the key issues, as well as highlight areas for change. There are some key areas where we believe simple changes can have a big impact, and we want to see everyone collaborating to make these changes a reality!

Our three policy focus areas are:

• Strengthening regulation around animal research to better implement replacement
• Increasing transparency around animal use
• Influencing Government to ensure replacement is prioritised within its science strategy

Keeping up with the Home Office

One of the big ways we continue to advocate for animals is through our regular attendance at the Home Office Animals in Science Regulation Policy Unit meetings.

More recently, we also attended an additional roundtable hosted by Lord Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, regarding the Government’s upcoming phase-out of animal testing plan.

The phase-out is an amazing opportunity for the UK Government to lead the way in cutting-edge, non-animal research. We have briefed MP’s, Ministers and Government bodies, so they can keep abreast of the issue, and ensure they champion the strengthening of Replacement and improvements to transparency in animal research.

Sharing evidence to support humane policies

Evidence and understanding are vital for policymakers to be able to make informed and strategic decisions. To support them in this goal we’ve submitted to several Government consultations and calls for evidence, sharing our insights and evidence on how the Replacement of animals can be strengthened. We’ve shared evidence on:

• Improving leading practice in the 3Rs
• Improving Non-Technical Summaries and Retrospective Assessments for animal us

We also shared out thoughts on why replacing animals should be a core Government focus in response to the Science, Innovation and Technology Committees inquiry ‘Under the Microscope’ (a call for ideas on topics that the Government should focus on).

Ensuring Replacement, from the lab to legislation

This year Jessie presented at the UK Animal Law Conference, focusing on the use of genetically altered (GA) animals in research in Great Britain, looking at their past, present and future concerns. This is a relatively new area of focus for us as a charity, so this was a great opportunity to share our thoughts and work so far.

Following last year’s conference, Jessie submitted a paper to the UK Animal Law Journal based on her presentation, which we are delighted to share was published in March 2025. The paper is available on the UK Animal Law Journal, it is behind a paywall.

Collaborating with Universities, policy-makers and beyond!

Collaboration is vital to creating change. We want to see a world where no animal suffers for science, but we know we cannot achieve that alone. That is why we are always so happy to collaborate with organisations that support our goals and want to learn more about how they can prioritise non-animal approaches.

Juliet and Jessie presented at Hartpury University and the University of Central Lancashire about the barriers and opportunities around the replacement of animals in science.

We have also participated in a range of meetings and events across the country, all opportunities for us to champion non-animal science – from a Public Policy Exchanges webinar on ‘Raising Animal Welfare Standards’ to the University of Plymouth’s biological science careers day!