I joined the team at Replacing Animal Research in April this year. I have worked within the third/charity sector for over two years and was excited to be given the opportunity to grow, learn and be a part of the fight to create a world where no animal suffers for science. Over the past few months, I have learnt so much and had countless “Oh, I didn’t know that” moments. Here are a few of them:

The number of genetically altered animals:

To be completely honest, I had always associated animal testing with cosmetic or drug trials. What I didn’t know, and was shocked to learn, was that there were animals being used for genetic modification… And a lot of them! These animals were created to learn more about how a gene functions or to try and mimic the biology or symptoms of a condition found in humans which can inherently cause suffering. If they don’t have the right mutation, they’re often euthanised. In the UK alone, almost half of all the regulated procedures carried out in 2023 were for the creation and breeding of genetically altered animals.

Many animal ‘models’ don’t transfer well in humans:

I feel like it is a common belief that animal testing is carried out to advance medicine (I have thought this too before!) so I found it surprising how often animal experiments fail to translate to humans. Despite years of research using animals, many human diseases remain poorly understood. I was shocked to see how much funding and effort still goes into outdated models, even when alternatives show more promise.

Alternatives already exist but aren’t always used:

One of the most shocking things I have learnt is that for some procedures we do have alternatives, but they’re not used. Sometimes it’s due to regulations, sometimes it’s just “how things have always been done.” Either way, it’s clear more change is needed.

It isn’t just ethical, it’s better science:

Replacing animal research isn’t just the kinder option, it’s the smarter one. Many human diseases don’t naturally occur in animals, so relying on results from animal testing can limit progress. Focusing on research that’s based on the human body, or as close to it as possible, leads to more accurate results, making science kinder and better for human health.  One project that I find really interesting is the organ-on-a-chip technology, which uses a range of human cells in small chips that mimic an organ. By investing in innovative human-relevant methods like this, we can spare animals from suffering while creating better science for humans.

The last few months have been eye-opening. I’ve learnt so much and it’s only deepened my belief that we should live in a world where animals don’t suffer and that it is possible. There has been great change over the years, but we still have a long way to go.

Of course, we can’t do this alone. If you would like to make a donation, do your own fundraising, or join one of our fundraising campaigns this year, please get in touch!