The Biomedical & Animal Research News Digest

A new resource housing the latest news in human and animal health research from the UK and beyond. Take a look inside the BARN Digest for all the major breakthroughs and updates from UAR members and Concordat Signatories!

BARN Digest

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What is animal research?

Scientific research using animals is vital to our continued and improved understanding of human and animal health. Animals are used to help us understand living organisms, study disease, and develop and test new medical treatments. 

Animal research is also used to keep people, animals and the environment safe from new medicines and chemicals. Animal research is heavily regulated in the UK and can only take place with permission from the Home Office and when there is no other way to do the research.

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About UAR

Understanding Animal Research is the UK’s only dedicated animal research advocacy organisation. We are a Mutal Society (not-for-profit organisation), funded by more than 150 life science organisations, including the UK’s top ten universities for life science, research institutions, research funders and charities, pharmaceutical companies, learned societies, and government agencies.  

Our primary aim is to ensure that there is factual, evidence-based information available to the public on how and why animals are used in scientific research in the UK, including medical, veterinary, and environmental research.  

We open the doors to animal laboratories by sharing stories from researchers and animal care staff, highlighting new advancements in medical research and lab animal welfare, and explaining the regulations and laws surrounding animal research. 

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Openness in Animal Research Conference RETURNS in 2026

Due to the success of the 2024 Openness Conference and the overwhelming demand from conference attendees to do it again, we are delighted to announce that our second Openness Conference will take place on 9-10 June 2026 in the West Midlands, UK.

The Openness Conference is a rare opportunity to bring together colleagues from across the world who have a professional interest in openness and improving laboratory animal welfare, whether or not they have an openness agreement in place or are working towards one.

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