UK to phase out animal testing faster under £75m roadmap for scientific alternatives

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 to replace existing experiments with cutting-edge alternatives such as organ-on-a-chip systems, artificial intelligence modelling, and 3D bioprinted human tissues.

Science Minister Lord Vallance announced the plan on Tuesday, calling it a “roadmap for innovation and compassion” that will help the UK become a global leader in non-animal testing methods. The initiative will back scientists and regulators to adopt validated alternatives without compromising safety in fields such as medicine, vaccines, and chemical testing.

The strategy includes ambitious milestones. By the end of 2026, the government plans to end animal testing for skin and eye irritation and skin sensitisation. By 2027, tests on mice for Botox potency and certain contamination checks for human medicines will be replaced with DNA-based methods. By 2030, the use of dogs and non-human primates in pharmacokinetic studies—tracking how drugs move through the body—will be significantly reduced.

Funding will establish two major national hubs: one focused on data sharing and collaboration between researchers, and another dedicated to streamlining regulatory approval for new non-animal testing methods. An additional £15.9 million from the Medical Research Council, Innovate UK, and the Wellcome Trust will support “human in vitro” disease models, including research on the liver, brain, cancer, pain, and blood vessels.

Lord Vallance said the UK’s plan “will end animal testing wherever possible and roll out alternatives as soon as it is safe and effective to do so.” Animal Welfare Minister Baroness Hayman hailed the move as “a major step forward for animal welfare and scientific innovation.”

The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) will play a central role in implementing the plan. Its chief executive, Dr Vicky Robinson, described the roadmap as “ambitious” and a crucial step in ensuring the UK maintains its global leadership in ethical science.

The strategy has been widely welcomed across the scientific and animal welfare communities. The RSPCA said it marked “a clear ambition towards eliminating animal use,” while the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) praised the government’s support for research that maintains patient safety while advancing humane science.

However, experts also cautioned that animal research will remain necessary in some areas until alternatives are fully validated. Dr Nicola Perrin, chief executive of the Association of Medical Research Charities, said: “It’s important that we continue to use animals where no other options are available, while doing everything possible to advance alternatives.”

The plan will be overseen by a cross-departmental committee chaired by Lord Vallance, with key performance indicators published next year to track progress. If successful, it could pave the way for the UK to become a world leader in ethical, high-tech bioscience—delivering breakthroughs in medicine while ensuring animal testing becomes increasingly obsolete.

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UK to phase out animal testing faster under £75m roadmap for scientific alternatives