Featured news

Huntington’s disease: 30 years after the discovery of the gene

Leaders in Openness 2022 - 2025 Announced

Animal research news: April 2022

How do you study stress in mice?

How to handle mice to minimise their distress

#MiceInResearch celebrating the 8th anniversary of the Concordat on Openness

Using mice to understand the complexity of ovarian cancer

How to create a sector-leading website on animal research

What’s the problem with a ‘scientific hearing’ on animal tests?

Parkinson’s disease: What are we looking for now?

Animal research news: March 2022

Talking to your colleagues about animal research

Learning to walk again: the history of spinal cord implants

The gender gap in heart disease research

Animal research news: February 2022

How are flu vaccines made?

Is animal research ethical?

How women are paving the way for welfare in animal research

Animal research news: January 2022

Pig to human heart transplants: how did we get here?

Vlogging about animal research

UAR’s animal research highlights of 2021

100 years of diabetes research

COVID-19 research must go on

Openness Awards and Paget Lecture 2021

Sixty years on: the history of the thalidomide tragedy

Introducing the 2021 Paget lecturer

Ten times Dr Ray Greek misled Ricky Gervais about animal testing

Zebrafish at the heart of regeneration therapy

Do fish feel pain?

Fighting the world's most deadly animal: the mosquito

Procedures carried out on animals in Northern Ireland, 2020

Zero carbon labs

Antibodies factsheet

2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: Discovering how we feel heat and touch

Depression and magic mushrooms: could synthetic psilocybin cure untreatable depression?

How is climate change affecting Antarctic animals?

What is an AWERB and how does it help promote high standards of animal welfare in research?

New Zealand launches an Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching

EU-wide animals in research statistics for 2018 released

Ten organisations account for nearly half of all animal research in Great Britain in 2020

Animal research numbers 2020

A new animal model for late-stage multiple sclerosis

What exactly is a culture of care? And why is it important for animal welfare?

Can you give a brain organoid Alzheimer’s?

Leaders in Openness 2021 – 2024 Announced

What does it mean to genetically modify an animal

Researching new antidepressants with swimming mice

A history of vaccines

Animal research and malaria

The COVID-19 vaccine for animals

High public acceptance of animal research to find treatments for COVID-19

Do we need to test all new drugs in two species?

Could llama antibodies treat viruses like COVID-19?

Why caring for laboratory animals is a rewarding career

Endometriosis: a painful lack of research

How effective is the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine?

Cancer avatars: the future for personalised medicine?

Top 10 COVID-19 vaccine myths

RNA vaccines: a new tool against COVID-19

Antibiotic resistance: superbugs that kill

The secret lives of mice: using the public to research mouse behaviour

Biofluorescence: mammals that glow in the dark

T'is the season to be ... a zombie deer?

Leaders in Openness 2020 – 2023 Announced

2020 Openness Awards

COVID-19: From your toilet to the sea, will your waste kill seals and whales?

Why we must stop Covid-19 gaining a foothold in animals

Study in mice shows that allergies can be passed on to offspring

Covid-19 may affect sperm and future generations

Why are scientists tickling rats?

Animal research and COVID-19

Factsheet on the forced swim test

2020 Nobel Prize for Chemistry awarded for the development of a method for genome editing

Free eLearning resource on 'blinding' in animal experiments

The concept of blinding as a strategy to remove bias from experimental results

Top Ten Organisations for Animal Research in 2019 Announced

Animal Research Numbers in 2019

COVID-19 research exposes activists' lack of evidence

Warning signs of the coronavirus: why we knew about it and couldn't stop it

Why we need more women in labs

What happened to wildlife after Chernobyl?

The benefits and risks of neutering pets

I wail, you wail, we all wail for whale day

Chair of UAR Council, Jeremy Pearson, awarded MBE

EU-wide animals in research statistics for 2017 released

Plastics are ruining the sex-lives of worms and could be affecting yours too

To study the brain we need monkeys

2019 Openness Awards and Paget Lecture

Introducing the 2019 Paget Lecturer

Northern Ireland Animal Research Numbers, 2018

Respiratory disease: asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Procedures carried out on animals in Northern Ireland, 2019

Why do bats have such a bad reputation?

Drug Discovery with Venom

Bony research: how zebrafish are helping osteoarthritis research

2019 Nobel Prize: sensing and adapting to oxygen

Preventing Bad Law with UAR's Policy Work

Our Favourite Posts From the Last 10 Years

Animal Research Numbers in 2018

Top Ten Organisations for Animal Research in 2018 Announced

Animals Help us understand Motor Neurone Disease

How sickle cell protects against Malaria

Celebrities impact public view of animal research

Animals to humans, how blood saves lives

Researching for a cure for multiple sclerosis

Reddit AMA with Frances Wiseman

Creating the European Animal Research Association

Researching stroke using zebrafish

Leaders in Openness 2019 - 2022 Announced

How do you study stress in an animal?

Why vaccinate your pets?

Haemophilia, the royal disease

Advances in 3R’s

Highlighting the role of vets in research

10 years of rat research – how stroke studies have evolved

Tuberculosis in Zebrafish

Ricky Gervais doesn't understand animal research

Did animal tests delay penicillin by 10 years?

Why we need female mice in drug trials

Why do so many promising compounds never become drugs?

A journey to the clean side

How we made our 360 degree lab tours

Human diseases are threatening chimpanzees

The Nipah Virus – a rare but deadly disease

Ten years of research with mice

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Timeline of cancer research and treatment

Recent advances in cancer research

Ten years of Understanding Animal Research

UAR's new strategy

Primate research in 2018

Vote animal research scientist for new £50 note

2018 Openness Awards and Paget Lecture

Top Ten Universities for Animal Research Announced

Additional animal numbers in 2017

Animal research in conversation

Northern Ireland Animal Research Numbers, 2017

Nobel Prize 2018

BA faces legal challenge for refusing to fly lab animals

In defence of animal testing

Migrating small birds flying at 4000m

Guide to writing non-technical summaries

Animal research numbers in 2017

Manchester University animal unit virtual tour

Tracking killer T cells in pigs for flu vaccine development

Killer fungus comes from Korea

3Rs prize for cardiac model

Alzheimer’s Researchers win 2018 Brain Prize

UAR's response to the Draft Animal Welfare Bill inquiry

Openness Awards and Paget Lecture 2017

Slight fall in animal research in Northern Ireland

Understanding Drug 'Prediction'

Ten leading universities conduct over one third of all UK animal research

No changes to EU Directive proposed in European Commission review

Circadian rhythm science wins 2017 Nobel

Dr Mark Dallas Reddit Ask Me Anything

Zebrafish host human cancers

Roger Lemon Reddit Ask Me Anything

Number of animals used in research in 2016

Why the anti-vivisection movement took an absolutist view

UAR at Cambridge BRAINFest 2017

Four animal laboratories open their digital doors to the public

Karen Mifsud Reddit Ask Me Anything

World Parkinson’s Disease Day 2017

Cambridge shows how animal studies are helping us understand OCD

Postcards from the post-fact front line: Pseudoscience and non-sequiturs as a rationale against research

Artificial 'embryos' created in the lab

Bird flu in China

Tilapia lake virus discovered

Hearing restored in deaf mice using gene therapy

'Tinder' for orangutans

Cats as intelligent as dogs?

60% of primates face extinction

Evolution of menopause

Male biased mice studies

Drug trail against Ebola

20 years since Dolly the Cloned Sheep

Cancer resistance in naked mole-rats

How chickens store sperm

Human-pig embryo for transplants

Vaccine against cancer

Pig cornea transplant cures sight in 200 blind people

New leaflets from UAR

Dogs catch infectious cancer while mating

Bd: Frog Plague

Gene edited cows make no horns

Fat labradors give clues to obesity epidemic

Memory formation mapped in rats

Grubby mice help immune research

21 Belgian research organisations unite in support of animal research

Tiger numbers up

British public misled over cosmetic tests

Pig heart beats for two years in a baboon

Animal welfare at Oxford University

Animal research at Imperial College

British harbour seals fitted with smartphone technology

Fungi help woodpeckers create new nest-holes

Zika: monkeys, mice, and mosquitoes

Reversing cancer in frogs

Interview with Xavier Montagutelli, Pasteur Institute

Vision restored in rabbits following stem cell transplantation

Could this tarantula be a solution to chronic pain?

Pro-Test 10-year Anniversary

Pro-Test 10 Year Anniversary

3D-printed body parts

The year of anniversaries

Colin Blakemore Reddit Ask Me Anything

Mice with bear bacteria got fatter

Destroying worn out cells makes mice live longer

Telling stories with numbers

Human ear grown on the back of a rat

Does the recent death in a clinical trial in France make us reconsider animal testing?

Scientists create cow cartilage in the lab

Singing mice - monitoring ultrasound for animal welfare

Acute myeloid leukaemia genes identified

Training monitor lizards not to eat toxic toads 

More myths busted

Elephants born to stressed mothers age faster

Smallpox

French virtual lab tour

Scorpion helps identify cancerous tissue

Meningitis B vaccine available to newborns

Fish and newts regenerate limbs

Killer snails eat fish

Is FRAME abandoning the centre ground?

Triggering bacterial defence

How malaria raises cancer risk

Video of the week: Life in the Mariana Trench

Sheep gives birth to a mouflon

How snails hunt fish

New ebola vaccine works

Owls and hearing

History of the Pacemaker

Rett Syndrome symptoms reversed in mice

Can your pet be allergic to humans ?

Boa constrictors don’t suffocate, they stop blood flow

The cure fallacy

Pacemakers: a short history

Brain speed cells track movement

New dog-breeding facilities will improve animal welfare

Dog breeding facility gets the go-ahead

In vitro: the remarkable rise of animal alternatives

Hormone slows down breast cancer growth in mice

Why Testing on Prisoners is a Bad Idea

What do rats dream about?

Cystic fibrosis gene therapy works

GM pigs resist swine fever

Demented dog or senile cat ?

Juvenile camels ‘key source’ of MERS

Llama antibodies reach the parts others do not

Why Animals Are Needed in Research

Wild chimpanzees drinking fermented palm sap

Hedgehogs, going, going...

The reason the European Citizens’ Initiative failed is the reason anti-research campaigns are failing generally

Climbing perch have lungs and gills

Anti-research European Citizen’s Initiative fails

Badgers; the cull or the research

Mice in space develop thin skin

Ten Tips for Debating Animal Research

Advice from our recent workshop

Octopuses can see with their skin

Vision restored in blind mice

Link between Diabetes and Alzheimer's

Penguins use guano to melt snow

Captured on film: animal research at Cambridge and Imperial College

World Day for Animals in Laboratories

Ebola drug cures monkeys infected with the virus

Nicotine use increases alcohol consumption in rats

UKIP pledges to introduce existing regulatory system if elected

Green animal research policy – scientifically illiterate, unethical and doomed to fail

Animal research in the 2015 General Election

Sixty years of the polio 'miracle' vaccine

Gibbons can use more than 450 different calls

Video: mouse cage enrichment

Vitamin D prevents diabetes and clogged arteries in mice

Working to reduce the use of animals in scientific research

Green Hill judge ignores independent vets

Evolution of the anus

Did the government really ban animal tests for household cleaners?

How chameleons change colour

Mice use more of their fathers DNA than their mothers

Male only medical trials can endanger females

Protecting medical progress and lab animal welfare in Europe

What about sewing the heads of monkeys onto other monkeys?

Llamas immune to HIV

Mary Lyon: 20th century geneticist

Limpet teeth strongest biological material

Let in the Lynx

Gerbils more tolerant of plague than rats

BBC TV: Can you cure my cancer?

Cleaner fish

Ballan wrasse control salmon lice

This week in animal research: w/e 06 Feb 2015

Key news from the week

3-Person IVF and the monkeys that made it possible

British MPs voted in favour of 3 person IVF

AstraZeneca plans for Cambridge HQ get go-ahead

This week in animal research: w/e 30 January 15

Videos of the week: MRC research with macaques

Animal research gives vaccines against cervical cancer

How mice have revolutionised what we know about memory

Armadillos roll out treatments for leprosy

Blood transfusions from young to old mice regenerate stem cells

Stolen pets and pseudoscience: 20 years of campaigners misleading the public.

Testing badgers for TB better than culling

Wirelessly charged pacemaker tested in rabbits

Animals get STI as well as humans

Ebola studied in guinea pigs

After UAR complaint ASA rules NAVS misleading public

Rabbits, fish and mice, but no rock hyrax

The importance of teaching about animal reseach in schools

Switching off appetite in mice

A breakthrough treatment for Ebola

A CRISPR future for genetic modification

Why do scientists use zebrafish in research?

Vaccine for dust-mite allergies

Declines in insectivorous birds associated with high neonicotinoid concentrations

Animal research in the movies

New cell creation which may cause "infantile amnesia"

Ten years of success from the 3Rs

Should neonicotinoids be banned permanently?

Monarch butterflies use magnetic compass to migrate

Kidney regeneration

The Secrecy Law That Is Heading For the Scrapheap

Porcine epidemic virus

How refining animal research can lead to more experiments

Scientist Colin Blakemore Knighted

GM mosquitos used to reduce wild mosquito population

Look before you leap

Charities communicating animal research

A Brave New World

The A-Z(T) of anti-science

Openness is more than just a PR exercise

When did you last hear a cuckoo?

Venom: Turning Toxicity on its Head

The Concordat is here!

Concordat on Openness on Animal Research launched today

Why are we still waiting for a cure?

Why science doesn't work without curiosity

The FoI press-release approach to campaigning

Standing up for Science

First gene therapy trial for deafness

Brain tumour cells burst by potential new treatment

Transplant stories

Openness in animal research news

Activist Debbie Vincent guilty of conspiracy to blackmail

Open Labs

Vaccine could protect against cancer caused by organ transplants

Mice use minimised by mini-liver break through

42 thousand red-listed turtles taken per year

Animal research and Asian vulture conservation

UAR complaint against Animal Aid upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority

Government announces delivery plan for reduction of animals in research

You want fish? Police your reserves

Herceptin - first monoclonal antibody treatment for cancer

Bat populations rise

by Theodore Roethke

BBC films inside Oxford Animal Lab

Two new films on Macaque research from the MRC

What makes us human?

Poll shows more Italians accept animal research

Science Action Network

Otter project - monitoring pollution

Avoiding turtle by-catch in the Mediterranean

The Big Animal Research Debate: Day 4

We need to stick with research through the ups and the downs

‘Turning point’ in Alzheimer’s treatment

Rothman, Schekman and Südhof - 2013 Nobel Prize winners in Physiology or Medicine

Rejection reduced by animal research

Nobel scientists experimenting on themselves

The Nobel Prize winners who experimented on themselves

Brain cancer research suggests new treatments

Pro-Test Italia demonstrate in Rome

2013 Nobel Prize Predictions

Down syndrome symptoms reduced in mice with single injection

Lasker award given to neurotransmitter researchers

New EU guide to alternatives to animal testing

3,000 Italian Researchers say no to law limiting animal research

Fire salamanders wiped out by newly found fungus

Basel declaration animal research awards

Free iBook: Primates in Medical Research now available

Neuron maps unveiled for mouse and fly

New treatment allows stronger radiotherapy

New mouse model for hepatitis C research

World Hepatitis Day

A new way to prevent transplant rejection

2012 Animal Research Statistics from the Home Office

Third Basel Declaration Society Conference

Understanding Animal Research’s 2013 AGM

Jumping species: how good intentions spread diseases

The eternal search for ever-lasting life

Hard on the outside, soft on the inside, and just the right temperature...

Inside the Dementia Lab

Symposium on the 3Rs

World Blood Donor Day

Cancer cells starved with gold

Artificial retina developed through animal research lets blind people see again

Research in mice suggests gut bacteria influence blood pressure

Bone “scaffold” helps new bones grow from stem cells

Diabetes cured in dog using gene therapy

This House Does Not Believe Animal Research is a Moral Hazard

1960's RSV vaccine side-effect now explained

Nine out of ten statistics are taken out of context

Cancers 'glow' in mice

Crustaceans shown to feel pain

New investment in the 3Rs

Home Office guidance to Animals Scientific Procedures Act

BBC Radio 5 live from a lab

The Beauty in the Beast

We are moving on Jan 15 to Hodgkin Huxley House

Vaccine against leishmaniasis trialled in golden hamsters

Video: Marmosets and research into Parkinson’s Disease

March of the cyborgs

Artificial 'jellyfish' moved by heart cells

Volunteer to be a school speaker

Record amount awarded for research to reduce animal experiments

First IVF baby celebrates 34th birthday

Cats make the headlines

Damaged proteins block immune cell transport

Nanoparticles reduce prostate tumours in mice

Child skin-cancer gene identified

Opossum models liver disease

Acidic airways found in cystic fibrosis linked to bacterial infection

NAVA leader pleads guilty in extremism trial

Huntington’s disease mutation in mice corrected using stem cells

New-found hormone protects against type 2 diabetes

UAR Chair Fran Balkwill Welcomes 2011 Statistics

2011 Animal Research Statistics from the Home Office

Parkinson disease protein spreads between neurons

Diabetes medicine improves memory in mice

Animal activists arrested in UK and Holland

Stem cell therapy for Type 1 diabetes a step closer

Schools poster - competition winner announced

Myeloid leukaemia slowed in mice

Scientists block pathological aggression in mice

Cancer risk increased by bacterial infection

How the foetus avoids rejection

Stem cells repair lungs in sheep

Skin cells turned into heart cells

Mice show link between psoriasis and heart disease

Welcome to our new look

Type 1 diabetes reversed in mice

Chemical treats multiple sclerosis

Paralysed patients control robotic arm by thought alone

European Directive 2010/63/EU: UK government responds

Brain cell death switched off

Mutations allow bird flu to spread between people

Animal research crucial for future of the NHS

NEW! Classroom poster

Gene therapy makes beating heart cells

Blind mice see again after eye cell transplant

New protein link to spinal muscular atrophy

Pain makes the heart grow stronger

Scientists working with both mice and people have found that painkillers could actually hinder the body’s recovery after a heart attack.

Space mice

Gene therapy for sickle cell

Predictive power of the parallel approach

Secret of stroke recovery?

Bone marrow transplant reverses Rett

Fat cells reprogrammed to burn energy

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Scientists 'read' mouse brains

The making of 'A day in the life of an animal technologist'

Vitamin E causes weak bones in mice

Moving animals - are we at a tipping point?

Secret to growing new nerves

Increasing egg supply to treat infertility?

Stem cells win prizes

Science website launches

Co-ordination restored in Huntington’s mice

Cancer treatment clears Alzheimer’s damage

Case studies showcase animal research

Goldilocks gene for personalised TB treatment

Drug for leishmaniasis

Skin cells to nerve cells

Nearly £1 million towards replacing cancer tests

Scientists have been awarded nearly £1 million to develop new test methods that should substantially reduce the numbers of animals used for testing chemicals which may cause cancer.

Gene therapy treats blindness in dogs

A common form of blindness has been successfully treated in dogs using gene therapy.

Nanoparticles boost vaccines

Scientists have developed nanoparticles that boost the effectiveness of vaccines in mice by mimicking part of the natural immune response.

Beagle breeding planning appeal fails

On Thursday 26 January, we learned that Communities Secretary Eric Pickles had agreed with the recommendations of a planning appeal inspector and dismissed the planning appeal by B&K animal breeders in East Yorkshire.

Rats jump aboard

On the principal that you can’t really understand something until you have tried it yourself, the UAR education team has been encouraging young people up and down the country...

Stem cells and heart repair

Continuing our video series on the patient benefits of animal research, a patient interviews a scientist on how stem cells, based on animal research, may be used to repair hearts.

Schizophrenia and sleeping problems linked?

Recent findings that a gene associated with schizophrenia also causes abnormal sleep patterns in mice have led scientists to ponder whether the mental illness and sleep disturbance could be genetically linked.

Worm holes and lung damage

New research suggests that understanding provided by parasitic worms could be used to treat serious lung injury caused by infections.

Omega-3 fatty acids protect against nerve damage

Scientists have found that omega-3 fatty acids can help speed up recovery from nerve damage.

Sex virus blamed for cancer rise

The UK Department of Health is being urged to review the national immunisation programme against cervical cancer, in response to a dramatic rise in throat cancer linked to oral sex.

One dog, 90 years, millions saved

Before January 1922, a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes was in effect a death sentence; many died of starvation.

Cell walls can bock infections

Scientists have developed a new strategy for fighting infectious diseases.

Rare eye cancer pathway uncovered

Scientists have uncovered the secret behind the rapid progression of retinoblastoma, a rare type of childhood eye cancer.

Young blood treats old mice with MS

By transplanting cells from the blood of young mice, scientists have successfully stimulated stem cells to repair the damaged nerve tissue of old mice with multiple sclerosis.

HIV vaccine boost

Scientists have created a vaccine that protects rhesus monkeys from infection by the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), a relative of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Gene could hold key to treating deafness

Scientists have identified a gene that, when deleted, causes deafness in mice.

Mapping memories

Intricate experiments using mice have allowed scientists to visualise the formation of new brain circuits that form after birth.

Cancer treatment targets tumour growth protein

A chemical tested in mice, cell cultures and human biopsies has proved highly effective in preventing the growth of tumours.

Gene confers resistance to Marek’s disease

Scientists have identified a gene that appears to make chickens immune to the deadly Marek's virus - responsible for millions of deaths in chickens each year.

Tuning the immune system reverses MS

Scientists have found a way to reverse the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) in mice.

Weight loss treatment works in obese monkeys

Researchers have shown that a new compound can significantly reduce the weight of monkeys by destroying blood vessels that feed fatty tissue.

Vaccine protects mice against deadly Ebola virus

Scientists have developed a vaccine which protects mice from the Ebola virus and, unlike current vaccines, can be stored for long periods of time.

Evidence-based policy

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Home Department, Lynne Featherstone, advanced an animal research policy based on evidence in a Commons debate on Wednesday 7 December.

World AIDS Day

It's 30 years since the first cases of HIV infection. During this time, says the website HIVaware, we've seen rapid change.

#WW award for Overlooking the Importance of Animal Research

We liked a piece in the Huffington Post by Kirk Leech. Overlooking the Importance of Animal Research in the UK politics section of the Huffington Post...

GM cells cure anaemia in mice

Mice have been cured of anaemia by an injection of genetically engineered cells that, when injected underneath the skin, formed blood vessels that secreted a hormone called erythropoietin.

Information tribunal rules for both sides

As anyone who reads it will see, a recent (11 November) Freedom of Information ruling falls some way short of the 'landmark decision' claimed by BUAV.

Naked mole rat DNA exposes its age-defying secrets

A team of scientists have begun to unravel the secrets underlying the long life enjoyed by naked mole rats.

Blood protein from rice treats rats

A human blood protein has been produced using genetically modified rice and used to treat liver disease in rats.

Release of leading extremists may inspire new attacks on animal research

Leading animal rights extremists Greg and Natasha Avery were released from prison this week.

Why don't woodpeckers get headaches?

How do woodpeckers avoid injury to their brain as their beak hits a tree at seven metres per second and up to 100 times per minute?

Blocking brain cancer in mice

An interaction between two proteins has been found to be essential for the development of the most common form of brain cancer.

#WW award for Of Mice and Medicine

We award Paul Vallely of the Independent newspaper for his excellent article - Of Mice and Medicine.

Modified protein treats haemophilia in mice

Scientists have engineered a human clotting factor into a safe and effective treatment that cured haemophilia in mice.

Chemotherapy delivered through the nipple

Tests in both rats and patients have shown that chemotherapy delivered through the milk ducts of the nipple is more effective and leads to fewer side-effects than intravenous drug delivery.

Lords again affirm support for animal research

Several peers confirmed their belief in the need for animal research in biomedical research, during a debate in the House of Lords yesterday (24 October 2011).

Of mice and medicine

Subtitled In defence of animal experiments, the Independent published a four-page article in Saturday's Magazine about how animal research is 'transforming human lives'.

New antibody protects monkeys from deadly Hendra virus

Squamous cell skin carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer after melanomas, affecting approximately 10,000 people in the UK each year.

Skin tumour reduced in mice

Enzyme linked to miscarriages and infertility

Studies of patient tissue and experiments using mice have linked a specific enzyme to both infertility and miscarriage.

Sickle-cell anaemia treated in mice

Researchers have shown that they can treat sickle-cell anaemia in mice by switching on a haemoglobin gene usually only active before birth.

#WW award for Zebrafish article in Wellcome News

The article by Emma James in the latest Wellcome News looks into why zebra fish have become so important in genetics research.

Diabetes 'cured' with brain stem cells

Stem cells taken from a rat's brain using a simple procedure have been made to produce insulin and used to cure diabetes in the same rat.

Of mice and men - new video

Watch the 'Of Mice and Men' videos to see how GM mice are used to study human disease.

Less is more for common cancer treatment

A common cancer treatment has been shown to be more effective and less toxic when administered at more frequent, lower doses.

Lords affirm support for animal research

Members of the House of Lords on Tuesday affirmed their support for 'proper and appropriate' use of animals in medical research.

#WW award for NC3Rs review

Our Wedneday Winner today is the NC3Rs for producing a really clear, accessible and comprehensive review of the work it funds.

Cancer inducing protein protects against diabetes

Scientists have uncovered an intriguing signalling pathway linking cancer and diabetes.

The research they tried to stop

Three animal rights extremists who were imprisoned for their role in the 'Save the Newchurch Guinea Pigs' campaign – Jon Ablewhite, John Smith and Kerry Whitburn – have been released from prison.

Anti-viral medicine slows brain tumour growth

Scientists have found that the growth of Medulloblastoma brain tumour cells in mice can be significantly slowed using existing anti-viral medicines.

Mouse stem cells guided to become neuron-protecting cells

Scientists have successfully guided mouse stem cells to become specialised cells that build a protective coat around neurons.

How the brain communicates with the immune system

Experiments on mice have identified the missing link that allows the nervous and immune systems to communicate.

Neuron’s self-defence against dementia

Scientists have identified a signalling pathway used by neurons to protect against the cause of frontotemporal dementia, the second most common form of early-onset dementia after Alzheimer's disease.

Treating 'Alzheimer's disease' in mice

Scientists working with mice have identified a molecule that appears to cause the dementia suffered by Alzheimer's patients.

UK Bioscience Coalition position on the European Directive on animal research

Animal research is vitally important in science and medicine.

#WW award for a letter from Parkinson's UK

Animal Aid is running a campaign against medical charities because some of their funded work involves animals.

Replacing animals with nerves on a chip

A team of scientists have developed a way of guiding nerve cells to set up complicated networks that mimic the ones found in the brain.

'Glow in the dark' cats aids HIV research

Scientists inserted two genes into cats: the first is taken from macaque monkeys and helps the cat resist the feline form of Aids; the second is a fluorescent gene from jellyfish that helps the researchers literally see where the added anti-aids gene is active.

Colchicine from Crocus kills cancer

A modified version of a chemical found in the Autumn crocus has shown exceptional promise as a tumour-killing agent in mice and will soon begin clinical trials in humans.

See UAR at the BSA

UAR hosted and recorded a talk about GM mice - Of Mice and Men - by Sara Wells and Paul Potter from the Mary Lyon Centre (MRC Harwell) at this year's British Science Festival in Bradford. Watch the talk below.

Gene deletion blocks pain

Scientists have identified the gene that allows the transmission of chronic pain.

Safer treatment for sleeping sickness

Scientists have trialled a safer way of treating sleeping sickness in mice by modifying an existing medicine.

Modified bacterium protects against TB

Mice infected with a genetically modified relative of the tuberculosis bacterium became immune to tuberculosis, a new study has shown.

Computer model predicts effect of medicines on heart

Scientists have developed a computer model that predicts the effect of anti-arrhythmic medicines on the heart.

Stem cell treatment for stroke trial

A treatment developed in rats and mice has been shown to be safe in the first ever human trial of stem cell treatment for stroke victims.

Gene therapy hope for Menkes Disease

Studies in GM mice have shown that a combination of gene therapy and copper injections could be effective in treating Menkes Disease, a lethal and progressive disease that mainly affects young boys.

Gene mapping opens new insights into the brain

A map of gene activity has been created that scientists hope will shed new light on the causes of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Breakthrough against deadly Ebola virus

Scientists have uncovered the Achilles heel of the deadly Ebola virus; the breakthrough could lead to the first treatment for the tropical disease within a decade.

Obese mice fed artifical enzyme live longer

A new artificial enzyme(SRT1720) has been found to increase the lifespan of obese mice.

Gene therapy treats Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Modified stem cells have been used to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in mice by replacing the faulty gene that causes the disease with a normal version of the gene.

Ear cells could be used in facial reconstruction

Tissue grown from stem cells taken from patients' ears could be used in facial reconstructions, tests in mice have shown.

Why fatty diet can lead to type 2 diabetes

Rates of diabetes have doubled in the last 30 years and doctors say rising levels of obesity are the main contributing factor.

#ww Buffering brains against stress

The hippocampus creates new neurones throughout our lives - so what happens if you bring "the hippocampus's production line to a screeching halt?"

Artificial protein could be 'universal' anti-viral

Antibiotics such as penicillin can be used to treat all sorts of bacterial infections, but doctors have few options when it comes to viral infections.

Some facts about Parkinson's and Alzheimer's research

The animal rights group Animal Aid launched an ill-informed, illogical and ill-conceived campaign against medical research charities a few weeks ago.

Mouse births from stem cell sperm

In the UK around 1 in 10 men are infertile, often because of low sperm counts.

Allergy testing with human cells

Allergic reactions to everyday chemicals are common causing eczema in millions of people, and tests on animals have been important in testing new chemicals for skin sensitisation.

Starving kidney cancer in mice

Researchers have identified a new chemical (STF-31) that selectively kills kidney cancer cells by blocking their glucose supply.

Cancer treatment for 'schizophrenic' mice

Schizophrenia is one of the most common serious mental health conditions in the UK, affecting 1 in 2000 people at some time in their lives.

Shining a light on ataxia

When people stagger after drinking too much ethanol has caused reversible ataxia – a loss of muscular co-ordination.

#ww Can scientists follow Laura’s lead?

Mark Henderson’s Science Matters column in today's Times Eureka gets our #ww Wednesday Winner award for communication about animal research (OK, it’s not Wednesday, but this column is a deserving winner).

Broken sleep disrupts memory

Research on mice has shown that uninterrupted sleep is vital for memory consolidation.

Coalition pledge on household product testing

This month’s awaited pledge by the coalition government to end household product testing on animals has been welcomed by the UK research community.

#ww award for the Ark Hive

Dr. Paul Foster, a Lecturer in Molecular Endocrinology at the University of Birmingham, is an experienced cancer researcher and pharmacologist with a strong interest in understanding how animals help advance medical research.

UK research using monkeys 'outstanding'

A report published today, called Review of research using non-human primates, recommends that scientific research on monkeys should continue in the UK, subject to rigorous safeguards.

I'm a scientist: get me in there!

For two weeks this June I took part in the 'I'm a scientist...get me out of here 2011' competition at the Wellcome Trust.

Animals containing human material

What are 'animals containing human material' (ACHM) and why the sudden interest in them?

Helping the hunt for disease genes

A few weeks ago it was announced that researchers have created genome-wide, high-resolution genetic maps of 100 inbred mouse strains.

Mice with human livers

To better study the breakdown and toxicity of new medicines in a human liver, scientists have created what has been named a ‘humanised mouse'.

Meningitis B vaccine one step closer

A study using mice has led scientists one step closer to developing a vaccine against the most common cause of bacterial meningitis, Meningococcus B.

Committing to the three Rs

The UK Home Office this morning agreed arrangements to deliver two Coalition commitments relating to the use of animals in scientific research

Spine repair allows rats to breathe again

Injuries that damage the spinal cord at the top of the neck can damage the nerve connections between the respiratory centre in the brain and the diaphragm muscles that we need to breathe normally.

#ww Animal models: Inside the minds of mice and men

Monya Baker has given us a good and useful read. Her article in Nature provides many examples of animal models for human conditions and gives a clear appraisal of their value.

UK animal procedures up by 3% in 2010

The UK Home Office has released figures showing that the number of research procedures using animals last year increased by 3% to just over 3.7 million.

Brain tumour growth slowed

Brain cancers caused by malignant gliomas account for around 3,000 deaths in the UK each year.

Polar bears and brown bears interbred

A genetic study of living and the ancient remains of polar and brown bears has revealed that they interbred during the last ice age and that modern polar bears are descended on the female side from brown bears that lived in Ireland.

Protein linked to cancer

Research in mice has shown how the over expression (over production) of a small protein allows cancer cells to divide.

Vaccine against Streptococcus pneumonia

Salmonella poisoning typically causes diarrhoea.

Reversing Rett Syndrome in mice

New research using mouse models has shown that glial cells, which protect and support neurons in the brain, play a central role in preventing the severe symptoms of Rett Syndrome.

But can they suffer?

'The question is not can they reason nor can they talk, but rather can they suffer?' Jeremy Bentham

Millions owe their lives to animal research

Leading research organisations have responded to misleading claims made by an antivivisection group in its recent letter to the Lancet.

Cheap treatment for sleeping sickness

Researchers are preparing for clinical trials of the first inexpensive oral treatment for Trypanosomiasis, the parasitic disease commonly known as sleeping sickness that is transmitted to humans by the tsetse fly.

Gene repair treats haemophilia

About one in 30,000 boys are born with a defective gene that causes haemophilia B.

SchoolZone Goes Live

The UAR SchoolZone is a brand new part of our site dedicated to school age students and their teachers.

Animal research and diabetes

In this film we hear from Chloe, who has diabetes, and Dr Aileen King, who researches into diabetes.

#WW award for ... Animal research is helping us beat cancer

'Thanks to decades of research, survival from cancer has doubled in the last 40 years, giving thousands of people more time with their loved ones.

Vaccine shrinks prostate tumours in mice

A vaccine containing a broad spectrum of tumour antigens delivered in a virus vector successfully treated 8 out of 10 mice with prostate cancer.

Why do charities fund animal research?

The animal rights group Animal Aid has launched a campaign against medical research charities who fund animal research.

Chemical in apple peel strengthens muscle

An apple a day really does keep the doctor away according to a new study in mice.

New regulations will boost good science, promote animal welfare

New animal research regulations from Europe will enhance the welfare of animals, facilitate modern science and cut through excessive red tape.

CJD research potential for Alzheimer’s

Researchers working on treatments for the brain disorder Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) may have found a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

Heart repair initiated in mice

Human hearts cannot repair themselves after a heart attack damages heart muscle.

New mouse model for hepatitis C

The hepatitis C virus infects in the region of 170 million people around the world and creates an increased risk of cirrhosis, liver failure and cancer.

UAR in Mauritius

Macaques, like humans, are not indigenous to the island of Mauritius, isolated as it is in the Indian ocean.

Protein suppression stops leukaemia growth in mice

Leukaemia causing stem cells have been eliminated in mice by suppressing two proteins.

‘Trojan Horse’ brain cancer treatment increases lifespan

A novel ‘Trojan horse' method of treating brain cancer has increased the survival time of mice by one half.

BBC interviews UAR about beagle breeding plans

Animal rights protestors are targeting the beagle breeding company B&K Universal's plans for modernisation of their site in Grimston.

Targeting genes to stop breast tumours

Some breast cancers do not respond to currently available chemotherapy.

Rodent Respect

This months Wednesday Winner website (#WW) is Rodent Respect. The site was created for scientists who work with rodents, especially students.

Do-it-yourself animal research

It is often said that the only way to really learn anything is to do it yourself.

Armadillos infect humans with leprosy

Armadillos can infect humans with leprosy, according to a new study comparing the disease in US patients and armadillos.

Skin cancer protein identified in mice

Scientists have identified a protein that suppresses skin cancer in mice.

A history of Beecham’s

The story of Thomas Beecham, founder of the company that went on to become part of Glaxo SmithKline, is quite extraordinary.

Mouse model of human immune system validated

A mouse model of the human immune system has been validated by replicating the results of a recent human HIV clinical trial.

Prostate tumours reduced in mice

Prostate tumours have been in reduced in mice using a medicine originally designed to treat obesity.

Nine cell types to re-grow a fin

Understanding regeneration in model organisms gives hope that it may one day be possible for amputees to regrow limbs, or for heart attack patients to regrow healthy heart muscle.

Vulture decline slows

The ban on a veterinary medicine which caused an unprecedented decline in Asian vulture populations has shown the first signs of progress.

#WW - Untangling the brain

Our brains are a dense tangle of billions of nerve cells connected together at synapses. Knowing how everything links up is key to understanding how the brain works – but it's a huge challenge.

Vaccine protects monkeys against SIV

A vaccine has been developed that protects monkeys from Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), the monkey equivalent of HIV.

Creation of new Animal Welfare Centre in Scotland

The Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) is to coordinate a major, new, EU funded, research project to create a Centre of Excellence in Animal Welfare Science.

Number of nerve stem cells declines with age

A new study may explain why our brains produce fewer new neurons with age.

Antidepressants stimulate nerve cell growth

Stress can cause depressive illness in humans and has visible effects on mice such as failure to groom and weight loss.

Possible treatment for muscular dystrophy

About 100 boys are born with muscular dystrophies every year in the UK.

Technique mass produces neural stem cells

Stem cells hold the promise of cures for injuries such as spinal cord damage and diseases such as Parkinson's but producing large quantities of cells for experiments and clinical trials is proving very difficult.

How exercise protects the heart

Work with mice has shown that the elevated levels of nitric oxide produced during exercise protect the heart from injury during a heart attack.

European Chemical Agency call for animal test data

Chemical safety in Europe is regulated in part by REACH*.

#WW Wednesday Web award - Smallpox Through Time

In Elizabethan times smallpox killed more people than TB, leprosy, plague and syphilis combined.

How TB destroys lungs

GM mice have helped identify a key enzyme responsible for destroying lung tissue in tuberculosis (TB).

UAR appoints Interim CEO

The UAR Council is delighted to announce that, following a rigorous selection process, we have recruited David Pruce as Interim Chief Executive to ensure that our important work continues and thrives.

Aspirin may reduce effects of Prozac

Aspirin and other anti-inflammatory medicines taken for pain relief may reduce the effectiveness of antidepressants such as Prozac.

New hope for MS

Unlocking a key messenger protein in the body’s defences could be a first step to new treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases, suggest studies in mice with a form of the disease.

Are wild animals happier?

Are wild animals happier? That was the question posed by Christie Wilcox for a guest blog in Scientific American.

Gene linked to lung cancer spread

Scientists have identified a genetic change that makes lung tumours more likely to spread to other parts of the body.

Growing new blood vessels in mice

Heart attacks and strokes could be prevented using a new method of blood vessel regeneration, according to research on mice.

Virtual rats' whiskers

A new computer model of rats' whiskers is helping scientists understand how rats process the sense of touch.

Genes temporarily turned-off

Scientists have created a new method to temporarily turn off the function of genes in mice.

Memory loss linked to stress

Scientists have discovered how stress contributes to memory loss in old rats.

Monkey malaria infecting humans

Monkeys infected with malaria are providing a reservoir of the disease from which humans can be infected.

UK public opinion largely positive

Recent research on public attitudes to animal experimentation has been published on the Ipsos MORI website.

A Question of Care

From our archive - this video about the care of laboratory animals was produced by the Biomedical Research Trust in 2003.

Retina grown in the lab

Mouse retinas have been grown in the lab using embryonic stem cells.

New mechanism links type-2 diabetes to obesity

Scientists have discovered a mechanism linking type-2 diabetes to obesity.

Stem cells for skin repair

New treatments for chronic wounds could be developed following the discovery of stem cells that repair damaged skin tissue.

Fish for Science is the first Wednesday Winner

We've awarded our first Wednesday award to The MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics for their Fish for Science website.

Genes for acute myeloid leukaemia

Scientists have identified three types of gene mutation that lead to acute myeloid leukaemia.

New skin cancer gene, new treatment

The discovery of a gene linked to skin cancer in zebrafish could lead to new treatments for the disease.

Be a Wednesday Winner #WW

We are starting our very own webby awards, which we are calling Wednesday Winners (#WW).

The teenager who took a stand against animal rights protesters

Laurie Pycroft, who founded Pro-Test five years ago, was profiled in The Independent Education section today.

European chemicals industry to develop non-animal toxicity tests

The European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) has launched a £450,000 research project into finding non-animal methods of toxicity testing.

Multiple sclerosis reversed in mice

The process of nerve cell degeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS) can be reversed, according to new research in mice.

Protein linked to autism in mice

Research on GM mice has found how mutations in a single protein can lead to autism.

Jamie’s Dream School – animal madness?

In his science lessons for Jamie’s Dream School on Channel 4, Lord Winston showed the dramatic (in more ways than one!) impact that using animals can have in science lessons.

Optimising GM mouse research

'The MRC is absolutely committed to basic research and we understand the value of mouse genetics', said Professor Sir John Savill, CEO of the Medical Research Council today, announcing a multi-million pound investment in mouse genetics.

GM pig gets cystic fibrosis

A GM pig that gets cystic fibrosis is helping scientists understand the causes of the disease.

Mice sperm grown in the lab

Treatments for infertility in men could come from success in growing mouse sperm.

UAR makes a Big Bang

UAR teamed up with the Y Touring Company this month for a series of workshops about the use of animals in research at this year's Big Bang Science Fair held at London's Excel Centre.

RatCAP brain scanner

Scientists have developed a mini brain-scanner that allows them to study brain function and behaviour simultaneously in rats.

Rousing research

Did you know that it is exactly 100 years since a little-known researcher called Francis Peyton Rous in New York discovered that chickens could get cancer from viruses? We didn’t think so.

Mouse mimics another childhood brain cancer

Scientists have created a mouse model of the most common type of paediatric brain cancer.

Poor diet in pregnancy linked to diabetes in offspring

Poor diet during pregnancy could raise the risk of offspring developing diabetes, according to new research in rats.

Self-doubting monkeys

New research suggests macaques experience self-doubt and uncertainty when making decisions.

Tiny sensors monitor heart attacks

The severity of a heart attack can be determined using tiny implanted sensors, according to new research on mice. Similar sensors could be used to monitor people at high risk of heart attack.

Black-footed kittens born through IVF

IVF has helped millions of couples achieve pregnancy, and not only in humans: it was with IVF that scientists recently produced these amazingly cute kittens.

Heart regeneration in newborn mice

Newborn mice can regenerate their own heart tissue following heart damage.

Mouse mimics childhood brain cancer

Scientists have created the first mouse model of a deadly form of childhood brain cancer.

Exercise reduces ageing in GM mice

Regular endurance exercise reduces the effects of ageing, according to new research on mice.

Artificial blood vessel success in animals

Artificial blood vessels for use in heart bypass surgery have been successfully tested in baboons and dogs.

New understanding of 'suspended animation'

Research on bears has extended our understanding of large mammal hibernation.

Enzyme reduces cancer spread

The spread of cancer to other organs has been reduced in mice by blocking an enzyme.

European medical science group states position on new law

The medical science group within the European Science Forum (ESF-EMRC) has produced a position paper on the new Directive on the Protection of Animals used for Scientific Procedures.

Spinal cord damage bridged in rats

Artificial ‘scaffolding' has been used to bridge spinal cord injuries in rats.

Type 1 diabetes treated in mice

Type 1 diabetes has been treated in GM mice using antibodies.

Wounds trigger tumours

Certain types of cancer could be triggered by simple wounds, according to new research on mice.

What's this?

Why have we got a QR code on our site?

Kidney regenerator cell identified

Zebrafish are renowned in the science community for their ability to repair damage to heart muscle.

Watch and read - Where do medicines come from?

We've produced a new leaflet and accompanying video that is being distributed to GP waiting rooms throughout the UK for the next six months.

Enzyme linked to blindness

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been linked to the lack of a protective enzyme in the retina.

Glowing nerve cells

Scientists have developed a way to make nerves glow in mice.

HIV-like virus cured in mice

Scientists have used a hormone to completely remove a HIV like virus from mice.

Protein predicts cancer spread

Scientists have identified a protein that tumours make when they are likely to spread.

Cancer medicine could treat spinal injury

The cancer medicine Taxol has been used to treat spinal injury in rats.

Gut bacteria affect brain development

Bacteria in the gut acquired early in life could affect future brain development and behaviour, according to new research on mice.

Hormone improves memory in rats

A hormone has been found that boosts the memory of an unpleasant experience in rats.

Lack of omega-3 linked to mood disorders

Mice fed a diet lacking in the fatty acid omega-3 are more susceptible to mood disorders, according to new research.

Tiny camera reveals brain changes in real time

An innovative new instrument has been developed that enables scientists to observe changes deep inside the brains of animals.

Caffeine could cure hangover headaches

Caffeine and painkillers could be the most effective cure for a hangover headache, suggests new research on rats.

Fighting cancer with cancer

An innovative new approach to fighting cancer has reduced tumour size in mice.

New video - mice as a model for Alzheimer's disease

Mice can be used to mimic Alzheimer's disease in humans.

RNA based medicine for HIV

A potential RNA based treatment for HIV is showing positive results in tests on mice.

UK scientist wins prize for improving animal welfare

Each year the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) awards a prize for innovative research which has an impact on the use of animals in life sciences.

UAR CEO moves to SGM

Dr Simon Festing, the Chief Executive of Understanding Animal Research for a little over six years, is leaving the organisation to take up the post of CEO of the Society for General Microbiology (SGM).

Scientists closer to MRSA vaccine

Scientists are closer to developing a vaccine against the superbug MRSA.

MicroRNA combats prostate cancer

Small strands of RNA, called microRNA, inhibit prostate cancer stem cells in mice.

Zebrafish grow abnormally in microgravity

Zebrafish raised in microgravity, replicating the conditions of space, develop skull defects.

GM chickens prevent transmission of bird flu

Bird flu epidemics could be prevented by GM chickens that stop the spread of flu to other birds.

Artificial intestine reduces animal tests

An artificial human digestive system is replacing the use of animals in some tests to see how medicines are absorbed, The Times reported last week.

Stem cells could end blood platelet shortage

Blood platelets produced from embryonic stem cells have been used to repair damaged tissues in mice.

Vaccine induces cocaine immunity in mice

Cocaine immunity has been induced in mice using an altered version of the common cold virus.

Genetic modification strengthens hearts

Mice have been genetically modified to grow stronger hearts.

GM rats are the new GM mice

Mice are the archetypal laboratory animal.

Horse genital cancer virus identified

Scientists have discovered a virus linked to genital cancer in horses.

Mechanism behind autism uncovered

Nerve cells that are unable to communicate effectively may be responsible for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), according to new research on mice.

Rats sniff out tuberculosis

Gambian pouched rats are being used by scientists to sniff out tuberculosis in mucus samples.

Scientists create singing mouse

Scientists have created a mouse that is said to sing like a bird.

Zebrafish improve understanding of cancer growth

Experiments on zebrafish larvae have revealed how cancer cells harness the immune system to quicken the spread of the disease.

Art meets science in mouse's brain

Animals have been used to understand the inner workings of the brain since the very beginnings of neuroscience.

How you live now impacts on the children you have yet to conceive

Smoking or drinking while pregnant can damage the unborn child.

World-leading research institute gets go-ahead

We are pleased to report that planning permission was granted last week for a new world-leading biomedical research institute in London.

Alzheimer’s reversed in mice by memory protein

Memory loss has been reversed in Alzheimer's mice by boosting levels of a memory related protein.

Childhood flu may protect against asthma

Exposure to bacteria or viruses as child could reduce your chances of contracting asthma, according to new research on mice.

Stem cells combat muscular dystrophy

A new mouse model of muscular dystrophy has found that stem cells play an important role in this genetic disease.

Freedom of Information - judgement on confidentiality clause at a university

Recently, a tribunal ruled that under the Freedom of Information Act a university can be said to 'hold' project licences (irrespective of how they are actually stored at the university) and that section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) would not prevent disclosure of information from the project licences.

Biological clock pigment could help blind people

Light sensing cells (photosensitive ganglion cells) in the eye, which contain the pigment melanopsin, set the body's biological clock.

Animal instinct

Following directly from the Basel Declaration that we covered on Tuesday, an editorial in Nature, 9 December 2010, has urged German science to set up an organisation like Understanding Animal Research to engage the public on the medical benefits of animal research.

Dementia confuses memories

Confused memories rather than memory loss may be the cause of 'forgetfulness' in dementia patients, according to new research.

Winter birth may alter biological clock

Being born in winter could make your long-term biological clock tick slower, according to a new study on mice.

Enzyme causes chronic pain

An enzyme responsible for making pain last after nerve injury has been discovered in mice.

Basel Declaration calls for open dialogue

More than 50 top scientists working in Germany and Switzerland have launched a new Declaration about animal research.

Focus on fluorescent filming

The Scientist reported on its top ten life-science innovations for 2010 this week.

Scientists create 'couch potato' mouse

By removing a protein that muscles use to convert fuel into energy, the researchers produced a mouse with normal body weight but which did not have enough energy to exercise.

How much effort on alternatives? The answer is a lot

Our attention was drawn this week to a relatively new European initiative called AXLR8, a consortium which aims to accelerate progress in developing alternatives to animals for safety testing.

Ageing reversed in mice

Premature ageing can be reversed in mice, hinting at the possibility of anti-aging treatments for humans.

World AIDS Day - 1 December

The HIV & AIDS page on our partner website AnimalResearch.info has been updated to mark World AIDS Day on 1 December.

Infiltration: most allegations unfounded

Understanding Animal Research today (Tuesday 30 November) welcomed a report from the Home Office addressing claims by an animal rights group about animal research and testing at a UK facility in 2009.

New European law marks dawn of a new era

The new European Directive 2010/63/EU on animal experimentation has been finalised.

New video: Why do we use animals in research?

In this short interview with Dr Simon Festing, we hear his response to questions such as: Why is their so much secrecy in animal research?

Changing nerve cells could treat spinal injury

Nerve cells made from a person's own skin suggest a novel way to treat spinal injury.

Compound controls weight and blood sugar

A new compound has been designed that controls weight and blood sugar in mice, raising the prospect of a treatment for sufferers of obesity and diabetes.

Shining a light on depressive disorders

Depression and anxiety affect a significant proportion of the British population, yet the underlying causes behind these medical disorders remain elusive.

How familiarisation breeds contempt

How do we learn to recognise new sensations and distinguish them from those we are already familiar with?

Blood pressure medicine could treat Alzheimer’s

A medicine previously used to treat high blood pressure could now be applied to Alzheimer's disease following tests on GM mice.

‘Fat gene’ causes overeating in mice

A ‘fat gene' has been found to cause overeating in GM mice.

Pregnant mice point to treatment for premature labour

Scientists have found that the onset of labour is controlled by tiny molecules called microRNA.

World Diabetes Day - 14 November

World Diabetes Day (WDD) is the primary global awareness campaign of the diabetes world.

GM mouse immune to cancer

Cancer tumours somehow escape the body's immune system, even when that immune system is primed by a vaccine designed to specifically target the cancer.

Gene mutation increases dementia

The dementia associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases is commonly associated with abnormal clumps of a protein (B-synuclein) in the brain.

Mice treated for memory loss

Mice treated with a brain enzyme inhibitor performed better in memory tests than untreated mice.

New government committed to continued crackdown

Following the sentencing of six animal rights extremists on Monday, the new government made clear that it remains committed to countering criminal activity carried out in the name of animal rights.

New video - How much animal research in the UK?

A new video, How much animal research is done in the UK, is now available in our youtube site and in the video section in the resources page on this website.

Deadly rinderpest virus eradicated

The UN has just announced that rinderpest, a virus that used to cause deadly outbreaks in cattle, has been eradicated in the wild.

Congenitally deaf cats have better peripheral vision

When the brain is deprived of input from one sense it often compensates with above normal performance in another sense.

Elixir of life?

Supplementing the diet of healthy middle-aged mice with a mixture of amino-acids - the building blocks of proteins - extended their average lifespan by over one tenth.

Potential treatment for terminal cancer

For the first time, researchers have discovered a therapy that can treat the invariably lethal terminal stages of cancer in animals.

The top 100 scientists in Britain today

The first list of its kind for science, The Eureka 100: The Science List by The Times last week aimed to identify the 100 most important people in British science.

European statistics on animal research released

The overall number of animals used in research across European member states does not seem to have changed much since 2005, standing at just above 12 million in 2008 (a decrease of 116,561 since 2005).

Mice muscles controlled by light

How do you re-animate paralysed limbs? A new approach being trialled on genetically modified mice uses flashes of light.

No retirement for chimp colony

186 chimps currently housed in unofficial retirement in the Alamogordo Primate Facility in New Mexico are to be re-housed in the Southwest National Primate Research Center.

Mice and monkeys metabolise BPA like humans

New research shows female mice, monkeys and humans appear to metabolise the oestrogen-like chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in similar ways.

Free course on science communication

The National Science Learning Centre in York is offering a fantastic opportunity to improve your science communication skills with a two-day course on engagement with schools and young people on 18-19 October 2010.

EU directive on animal research becomes law

Yesterday the President of the European Parliament, and the Belgian State Secretary (representing the EU countries) put pen to paper and signed the new EU Directive 8869/10 in the use of animals in scientific research.

Retinal cells transplanted into blind mice

Retinal cells, necessary for colour vision, have been successfully transplanted into blind mice.

Loss of gene makes mice smarter

Mice with a disabled RGS14 gene are able to remember objects and learn to navigate mazes better than normal mice.

Tasmanian Devil genome sequenced

The Tasmanian Devil is at risk of extinction in the wild due to a transmissible cancer passed on when one animal bites another.

Drug reverses diabetes nerve damage

Diabetes can cause the death of nerves in the body's extremities, a condition known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

Single gene regulates motor neurons in the spinal cord

As a normal mammalian body grows, hundreds of motor neurons grow from the spinal cord to the muscles they will control.

Support for research that uses animals containing human material

The public broadly supports research on animals containing human material, according to an Ipsos Mori survey of 1,042 people.

European parliament votes on animal research directive

Today the European Parliament agreed on the final text of the new Directive concerning the use of animals in research.

Anti-clotting medicine attacks lupus

Lupus is a chronic disease where the body's own immune system attacks healthy tissue, causing inflammation, pain and damage in organs, particularly the kidneys.

How fish oils reduce inflammation

The omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA found in oily fish reduce inflammation, which in turn reduces the symptoms of arthritis and reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Rat pancreas grows in mouse

An ultimate goal of regenerative medicine is the generation of organs derived from a patient's stem cells.

Why older women fail to conceive

As women get older the chances of infertility, birth defects and developmental disabilities go up.

Malaria cured in mice

Increasing resistance to anti-malarials, such as those based on Artemisinin, have prompted a need for new treatments.

Resetting body clock in mice

Researchers have successfully used a chemical to reset and restart the natural 24-hour body clock in mice.

New approaches to animal research in schools

Animal research is a favourite topic when teachers are looking for a sure-fire way to get their students interested in the ethics of science, but are schools getting all they can from this complex, sometimes difficult, always fascinating subject?

Monkeys survive lethal Ebola and Marbug

Monkeys treated with a therapy that targets specific viral genes survived deadly Ebola and Marbug infections, a new study reports.

Magnetic medicines treat brain tumours

The barrier between blood vessels and the brain may no longer limit the delivery of medicines to tumours, research on rats shows.

Shellfish toxin testing

The recently published Annual report (2009) of the Animals Scientific Procedures Inspectorate and Division highlights progress towards suitable alternatives to replace the use of mice in the testing for toxins in shellfish.

Star dogs

UGUST 20, 1960: MOSCOW The Soviet Union today launched its second cosmic space ship, the Soviet news agency, Tass, said. The space ship carries animals, including two dogs.

GM rats promise better disease models

Scientists have created a ‘knockout rat' that can be used to model certain diseases in the same way as mice.

Chillis may reduce blood pressure

Capsaicin, a compound found in chilli peppers, has been found to reduce high blood pressure in rats.

Mouse clues to testicular cancer

For the first time scientists will be able to study the development of human testes in mice.

'Home grown' joints

The body's own cells could be used to aid the repair of joints, a pioneering rabbit study has revealed.

Puma may aid tumour growth

A study on mice suggests that cell suicide may encourage tumours to grow instead of destroying them.

Street-smart insulin

Mouse research has revealed a link between bone remodelling, blood sugar and diabetes.

7,000 and counting...

Are you a school science teacher or a GCSE science student? Don't miss out next year - invite a volunteer speaker into your schoo

Genetically altered animals overtake normal animals in UK research

The UK government announced this morning that the number of animal procedures in 2009 fell by 1% compared with the previous year.

Ferrets, flu, fish and pharmaceuticals

Grants worth £4 million have just been announced for 13 science projects that aim to minimise the use of laboratory animals and improve their welfare.

Flu patch

A vaccine in the form of a skin patch has proved more effective than a needle in mice.

Down syndrome: two genes crucial

Some of the symptoms relating to Down syndrome have been linked to two genes on chromosome 21, a study on mice has shown.

Protein linked to heart failure

Elevated levels of the protein CIB1 causes enlargement of the heart and subsequent heart failure, according to rodent research.

Primitive cells help blind mice see

Primitive retinal cells, that were previously thought to have no role in image formation, can help blind mice see.

Scientists watch armed immune cells fight cancer

Armed and tagged immune cells can be watched attacking tumours in mice in real time.

A light on Parkinson's

Shining a laser into the brain may ease the symptoms of Parkinson’s, a new study in mice has shown.

A pill that could reverse Alzheimer’s

A new compound that may reverse Alzheimer’s in humans has proven successful in rats and mice.

Physical, social stimulation may starve tumours

Mice with cancer living in enriched environments had smaller tumours, new research has revealed.

Artificial lung an alternative test-bed?

A functional artificial lung on a chip, which mimics the behavour of mouse lungs, has been created.

Cancers linked by faulty gene

Prostate cancer and hereditary breast cancer could be linked by the same gene, research on mice suggests.

New guidelines for reporting research

The National Centre for the Reduction, Refinement, and Replacement of animals in research (NC3Rs) has published a list of guidelines for scientists to follow when reporting the results of research involving animals.

UK Bioscience Sector outlines principles for implementing new Directive

The UK Bioscience Sector has produced a set of principles for the implementation and transposition of the revised EU Directive concerning the use of animals in research.

European public opinion divided

The European Commission has published a survey on the public's opinion of science and technology.

Rats breathe using lab lungs

For the first time rats have been able to breathe using lab grown lungs, a new study reports.

What R you watching? An interactive resource for schools

What R you watching? our latest online interactive educational resource, is now live on the UAR site.

A guide for UK institutions on the new EU Directive

The revised European Directive on animal research (EU8869/10) should be formally 'adopted' in Europe during summer 2010.

Weakened virus makes better vaccine

Rewriting the genetic code of the flu virus has helped to produce a stronger immune response, studies on mice have shown.

Gut bacteria may trigger arthritis

A novel study has uncovered a link between stomach bacteria and the development of rheumatoid arthritis in mice.

Painkiller from sea snail venom

A new painkiller is 100 times more potent than other painkillers, tests on rats have revealed.

Liver grafts grown in the lab

Scientists are a step closer to producing artificial livers after successfully producing a rat liver graft from stem cells.

Plastic antibodies attack bee stings

Immune system molecules made from plastic have functioned successfully in the first tests involving mice.

UK government minister to discuss animal research policy

The Home Office minister with responsibility for animal research, Lynne Featherstone, has agreed to meet the bioscience sector to discuss policy issues.

Canine cancer consortium

Two organisations have joined together to further research into canine cancer.

Extra chromosome protects against cancer

An extra copy of chromosome 21 may boost protection against cancer, research on mice suggests.

Scar tissue process revealed

Research on mice has revealed the process which limits the accumulation of excessive scar tissue.

The ultimate mouse gene study

A global effort announced recently could lead to the ultimate mouse model of human disease. The International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC) aims to explain and share the functions of genes in mice.

The Marks & Spencer bunnies

Some may have seen the full page advert by the retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S), with pictures of rabbits, proclaiming its commitment not to test cosmetics or household products on animals.

The Animal Protection Party and the UK General Election

Just over a month has passed since the 2010 General Elections and the resulting Coalition government is beginning to outline their new policies.

Tremors caused by spinal malfunction

The mechanism which causes severe tremors in people with Parkinson's disease could be controlled through the spine, research on monkeys suggests.

RSPCA and LASA produce new guidelines

Ethical Review Process (ERP) bodies within animal research institutions now have the tools to "develop more efficient and effective processes".

Mystery of lithium action solved

The mechanism by which lithium works to reduce inflammation in the brain has been discovered in a study on rats.

New grants for science teachers

No understanding of how science works is complete without some knowledge of the way we use research animals.

Stem cell hope for deafness

Growing hair cells from stem cells could offer personalised treatments for deafness in the future, scientists studying mice suggest.

Dogs knees hold sporting injury clue

Canine genetics may be able to explain why both humans and dogs develop ligament injuries.

New treatment targets source of asthma

Lowering the production of specific immune cells could prevent asthma attacks, research on mice shows.

Council agrees stricter rules for animal experimentation

The European Council of Ministers has announced agreement on the draft Directive for the Protection of Animals used for Scientific Purposes.

Pigs are a new ideal model for cystic fibrosis

The cause of cystic fibrosis (CF) is becoming clearer after scientists used pigs as models instead of mice.

First trials for stem cell transplant into human spine

Stem cells have been injected into the human spine in a pioneering trial to test the safety of the technique, with the hope of treating a debilitating neurodegenerative condition.

Broccoli chemical kills cancer cells

A chemical in broccoli can kill breast cancer cells and halt tumour growth, accroding to new research on mice.

Hormone injection fights bone death

Bone death, a side effect of steroid medication, could be prevented according to new studies using rabbits.

Chilli-like chemical part of the pain pathway

A group of substances similar to those that give chillies their kick are part of the body's pain mechanism, research on mice has shown.

Study points to new cell culprit for epilepsy

In the past, research on epilepsy has focused on nerve cells, or neurons.

Artificial skin graft success

Artificial human skin developed in the laboratory has been successfully grafted onto mice.

Parties outline their stances on animal research

As the election manifestos from the political parties have been published, we have been having a look to see what they have to say about animal research.

Tribunal rules in favour of UK University in FOI case

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request made nearly three years ago has reached its conclusion, at least for now, with a ruling by the Information Tribunal.

Antifungal drug reduces tumour size

A medicine currently used to treat fungal infections successfully slows tumour growth in mice, according to new research.

Duck gene helps fight flu in chickens

Influenza protection can be transferred across species, say scientists who have identified a key gene in ducks.

Fat-free proteins kill tropical disease bug

Parasites which cause sleeping sickness can be killed by altering the proteins that they are dependent on, studies on mice show.

Agreement on European regulation

The European Parliament and Council representatives have reached an agreement on the final details of the revisions made to Directive 86/609/EEC on animal experimentation.

Enzymes are target for lung cancer treatment

‘Switching off' certain enzymes helps reduce tumours in mice, research has shown.

Synthetic ‘organ' helps stop gout

A plastic capsule implanted under the skin could help regulate metabolic processes, a study on mice has revealed.

RSPCA and GCSE science

The RSPCA's latest foray into schools education is a smart new web resource for GCSE science with a substantial chunk dedicated to exploring the ethics of animal research.

3Rs in front of the camera

If there is one thing that anti-vivisection campaigns are good at, it's providing vivid imagery.

Retrial for animal rights activist?

An animal rights activist who was jailed last year for a firebombing plot against Oxford University in 2006 faces a retrial.

Walnuts to fight prostate cancer

Eating walnuts as part of a balanced diet may reduce the size and growth of prostate tumours, a study on mice has shown.

Glaucoma begins with brain nerve deterioration

Damaged nerves in the brain are the cause of the eye disease glaucoma, rather than damage to the eye itself as was previously thought. This recent finding was the outcome of research using mice.

Absent gene heals mice without scarring

Mice lacking the p21 gene can be healed scar free, a study has shown.

Faster repair for damaged bones

Stem cells can help repair severely damaged bones quickly, studies on sheep and humans have revealed.

Mice vote Green

Simon Jenkins, writing in The Guardian on Friday, asserted that giving animals rights leads to moral chaos. His piece, both amusing and serious, alludes to a recent bit of fun in the pro-hunting magazine, Country Life, which speculates about which political party different animals would vote for.

Tapeworm vaccine helps pigs and humans

A new vaccine successfully blocks tapeworm infection in pigs, helping to break the cycle of infection between pigs and humans.

FoI and lessons for records management

Freedom of Information (FoI) requests have recently been in the news, as many UK Universities have received a request for information from Luke Steele, an animal rights activist based in Yorkshire.

UK public attitudes - not much change

Public opinion research released this week shows that public attitudes to animal research haven't changed much in the UK over the last few years.

Mouse model develops human liver

Mice could be more useful in the study of hepatitis than previously thought, as research into the possibility of growing a human liver in a mouse has proven successful.

This little piggy

There are some strange animal-related things happening in Europe, but sometimes sense can prevail.

New cause of diabetes revealed

Pig models are becoming increasingly important in medical research into the causes of diseases, and have now shed new light on the causes of diabetes.

TB and leprosy resistance gene link

A new gene variant that increases resistance to diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy, has been identified from studies on zebrafish and humans.

Stomach hormone helps reduce liver damage

A hormone found in the stomach reduces inflammation and could ease liver diseases such as cirrhosis, research on rats has revealed.

HIV vaccine ready for human trials

Using a deactivated form of HIV as a vaccine may be the best new treatment for fighting the HIV virus, concluded scientists after studying primate responses to the treatment.

Extraordinary Animals

Tomorrow the film Extraordinary Measures will be released in UK cinemas.

Handy information about animal research

Six new leaflets have been published by Understanding Animal Research, providing an overview of aspects of animal research

Brain development timing crucial for Fragile X

Slower brain development may be the reason some children reject all physical affection, research on mice has shown.

Dialogue is key?

In a febrile atmosphere, a 'panel discussion' took place on a Californian campus earlier this week between antivivisectionists and research advocates

Gene linked to premenstrual disorder

Premenstrual disorder may be linked to a specific gene, research on mice has shown.

Anaesthetic stops pain not movement

A novel anaesthetic that can stop pain yet allows patients to retain movement has been discovered through a study using rats.

House of Lords debate revision of EU regulations

On Wednesday, the House of Lords ‘took note' of a committee report into the revision of the EU Directive on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes

Mystery of Valium addiction revealed

Drugs such as Valium and Xanax could be redesigned after a study on mice has revealed the mechanism which makes them addictive.

Osteoporosis 'pill' success

Taking a special ‘bone pill' could be the key to healing brittle bones, research on mice has shown.

Effects of ageing in mice reversed using blood

Old mice have had their bone marrow rejuvenated after receiving blood supplies from younger mice, a new study has revealed.

Review of research regulations

This month has seen publication of the long-awaited Hampton Implementation Review Report for the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Division and Inspectorate.

Anti-depressant successful on stressed rats

Symptoms of depression caused by an inflammatory response could be alleviated by a new treatment, a study on rats has shown.

Skin cells to brain cells for better treatments

Skin cells have been transformed directly into functioning brain cells for the first time in a new study using mice.

Public opinion polling: what is it for?

A paper in the January 2010 Journal of Biomedical Ethics gives an interesting insight into the use of public opinion polls by all sides in the UK animal research debate.

BUAV student guide economical with the truth

What is wrong with animal experiments? asks BUAV's new ‘guide for students' and it is a question worth asking.

Bad design or bad reporting?

Critiques of animal research usually focus on issues such as the need for the study, the number of animals used, and how they are treated.

Pregnancy malaria risk shows need for research

A new study which estimates that approximately 60% of global pregnancies are at risk from malaria will highlight the need for continued research into treatments for the disease.

Exercise boosts brain power

Running a few days a week can stimulate the brain to grow new cells, research on mice has revealed.

Zebrafish are good models for human disease

Recent studies show zebrafish to be a useful animal model in studying mental illness and neurological diseases.

Eyes and sense of smell could act as indicators of Alzheimer's

Examining patients eye cells and ability to smell may help detect Alzheimer's disease earlier on, research on mice suggests.

Sharing the pie: new animal numbers activity for schools

How much do you know about which animals are used most in medical research and which are used least? Sharing the Pie, the latest addition to the Learning Centre's suite of activities for schools, is a fun way to find out.

New drug reverses effects of stroke

Stroke victims could regain near complete restoration of movement thanks to a new drug, research on rats has shown.

Potential cause of migraine identified

Rays of light act as a potential trigger for migraine attacks, a study on rats has found.

Science and the media – a call to action

Act now to safeguard improvements in science reporting – that is the message to the scientific community and government in the UK from a new strategic report published today.

Double bill in The Times for animal research

Most recently the Sunday Times cover piece last weekend took an in depth look at what goes on in animal labs in the UK, and the issues behind the research.

Radiation benefits for Alzheimer's mice

Mobile phone radiation has been found to decrease the severity of Alzheimer's disease in mice, according to new research.

Leukaemia vaccine ready for patients

A new vaccine which successfully treated mice with leukaemia will undergo the first human trials this year.

Pork products aid foetal mouse brain development

Eating pork that contains a micronutrient could help a growing brain develop, according to a recent study on mice.

Gel may help heart disease patients

A gel made of compounds found naturally in the body could be used to grow new blood vessels, research on rats has shown.

Gene therapy eases breathing problems

Delivering genes to specific cells which cause the lung disease emphysema could be key to alleviating breathing difficulties, research on mice suggests.

Rabies vaccine protects monkeys against HIV

A vaccine based on the one used to prevent rabies can be used to protect against the monkey form of HIV (SIV), a new study has found.

Artificial blood cells help clotting

Patients who are unable to form blood clots could be aided by a newly designed blood cell, research on rats has found.

Childhood diabetes, food sweetener link

A new study has shown that the food sweetener fructose can cause dangerous body fat deposits and trigger diabetes and heart disease in humans.

Abnormal body clock linked to heart disease

High blood pressure may be linked to disruptions in the circadian body clocks, a study on mice suggests.

Loneliness linked to cancer in rats

Loneliness and stress are more likely to cause breast cancer, a study using rats suggests.

Great blog, but sadly anonymous

Here in the Understanding Animal Research office we were delighted to read this well written and interesting blog titled ‘Why we experiment on animals' on the Times newspapers new science site Eureka Zone.

Novel treatment to tackle Hepatitis C

Targeting host molecules instead of the virus has proved successful in killing the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), research on chimpanzees has found.

Missing link found in foetal heart failure

The inability to form a blood clot in a foetal blood vessel has been linked to heart failure in newborns, a study using mice has discovered.

Stem cell therapy restores vision in rats

Vision in blind rats has been restored by a UK team in collaboration with international scientists.

New virus helps combat brain tumours

Aggressive brain tumours can be killed and prevented from recurring using a virus, a new study using mice has found.

Stomach hormone protects against Parkinson’s disease

A study involving mice has revealed that a hormone originating in the stomach has a new use in boosting resistance to Parkinson's disease.

Cancer vaccine implant success in mice

A cancer ‘vaccine' which can be implanted under the skin and instructs the body to attack tumour cells has proved successful in experiments with mice.

Blood transfusion between animals - one of science's oldest iconic papers now online

The new Trailblazing scheme from the Royal Society sheds light on some of the most iconic scientific discoveries of all time, and allows users to access digitised versions of these iconic scientific papers.

Why a little bit of dirt never harmed anyone

‘Friendly' bacteria living on the skin can be beneficial to our health, according to new research using mice and human cells.

Ten years old and nothing gained

The animal rights extremist group SHAC is 10 years old this month. But the activists who fly this flag have nothing to celebrate.

Will we hear the sound of music again?

Julie Andrews, the star of musicals Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music has announced she will return to the London stage next year after more than 30 years.

Better understanding of need for new brain cells

Scientists know that the adult brain continues to create new nerve cells (neurons), but the reason why this happens is poorly understood.

Artificial skin from stem cells for fast burn treatment

Sheets of 'substitute skin' from human embryonic stem cells have been grafted onto mice in the laboratory.

Biomatrix may allow tumour testing without mice

Mice are used widely in the study of cancer and to test the clinical efficiency and safety of anti-cancer therapies.

New MS treatment for spinal cord injury?

Researchers have made a step forward in treating nerve cells damaged in spinal cord injuries, using guinea pig tissues.

Unlimited supply of rare cells produced in the lab

A new method to treat arthritis has proven successful in mice, and holds strong hopes for treating other autoimmune disorders.

Rock band unleashes violence tirade at UK gig

We aren't sure if it's because it was Friday the 13th but unlucky Flaming Lips fans were faced with an unpleasant display at a gig in Portsmouth last week.

Lung tumour treatment shows promise

Researchers have discovered a new medicine which is able to stop lung tumours from growing in mice, even eliminating them altogether in half of all cases.

Lords take balanced approach but concerns remain

Understanding Animal Research welcomes the report published this week by the House of Lords EU Committee.

Considering what it is to be human

The Academy of Medical Sciences has launched a new project to examine the use of animals containing human material in scientific research.

Damaging effects of fat reversed

Researchers have long known that overweight people are more likely to develop conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.

Gene therapy repairs damaged lungs

Using outside-the-body gene therapy in pig and human lungs, researchers have repaired donated organs that were deemed too damaged to transplant.

Infiltration raises questions

The recent infiltration of a UK safety testing facility by an antivivisectionist raises many questions.

Gene therapy promise for muscular dystrophy

Scientists have developed a new gene therapy successful in treating the most severe type of muscular dystrophy in mice.

High-protein diet shrinks brain

Past research has suggested that high protein diets, such as the Atkin's diet, can increase the risk of heart disease and kidney problems.

Loose laws and bad judgements

Weighing up the cost to animals and the potential benefit of any particular research program is no simple task.

Opening doors

Five years ago newspaper reports of medical breakthroughs rarely mentioned the animal research that had played a part in creating a medicine or treatment.

Towards replacing rabbit eye tests

Two new 'non-animal methods', have now been approved by OECD for testing the irritancy of some substances to the eye.

Dogma would deny dogs new cancer drug

Antivivisectionists have spoken out against giving dogs with cancer a new cancer drug.

When the going gets tough...

We have seen in the UK that, when attacked by violent animal rights extremists and vociferous antivivisectionists...

Beating heart muscle engineered

Scientists have grown a thin strip of heart muscle, which is able to beat spontaneously, using stem cells from a mouse embryo.

Gene therapy treats Parkinson’s tremors

Researchers have used gene therapy to correct movement problems in macaque monkeys with Parkinson’s symptoms.

Cholesterol beneficial to brain cell development

Researchers have discovered that a derivative of cholesterol is necessary for forming brain cells.

Healing properties of stem cells improved

In a mouse study, scientists have engineered stem cells to enhance their healing properties.

Longer life for donated hearts

A discovery in pigs could increase the number of transplants that can be performed.

Longer, healthier lives for mice

Scientists have extended the lifespan of mice by manipulating their genomes.

Treating brain secondaries in mice with breast cancer

Scientists have shown that the drug vorinostat is able to cross the blood-brain barrier, and reduce the development of brain tumours in mice.

Lack of sleep linked to Alzheimer's

Studies using mice suggest that lack of sleep could increase the development of plaques in the brain, accelerating the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

White blood cells set the pace of wound repair

After more than 50 experiments in mice, scientists have mapped out how a set of white blood cells (lymphocytes) set the pace of recovery after serious lung injury.

UK Bioscience submits supplementary evidence to the House of Lords European Union Committee Inquiry

The UK Bioscience sector prepared a submission of supplementary evidence to the House of Lords European Union Committee, Sub –Committee D (Environment and Agriculture) on the revision of Directive 86/609.

Time for more change in America

We have been watching with great concern the animal rights extremists’ campaigns taking place in the United States and California in particular.

'Master gene' for immune cells identified

Researchers have identified the master gene that causes blood stem cells to turn into natural killer (NK) immune cells.

Gene therapy for colour blindness

A team of scientists have restored colour vision to two colour blind squirrel monkeys using gene therapy.

Stem cell link to prostate cancer

A new study identifies a stem cell that may cause some types of prostate cancer, at least in mice.

How broccoli protects arteries

Researchers have discovered one reason why broccoli and other green leafy vegetables are definitely good for you.

New research shows public opinion supportive of animal research

The latest public opinion research from Ipsos MORI shows that the vast majority of the British public can accept animal experimentation for medical research purposes.

Pioneers of stem cell research in animals win 'pre-Nobel'

The 2009 Albert Lasker basic medical research prize has just gone to stem cell pioneers John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka for their work using frogs and mice.

EU tries to avoid using 54 million more animals

A recent study suggests that the chemical industry will have to spend €9.5 billion (US$13.6 billion) on safety testing over the next decade.

Diesel fumes grow new blood vessels?

New findings indicate that the link between diesel exhaust fumes and cancer lies in the ability of particles within the exhaust fumes to cause the growth of new blood vessels, which can aid tumour development.

The Shuffle: new interactive

Understanding where medicines come from – the long process from basic research, through clinical trails, to licensing and prescription – is not always easy for professional researchers, let alone young people.

Key protein in obesity related diseases

It is well known that obesity can lead to health problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and it is thought that this is due to low-grade inflammation.

Balanced diet best for arteries

A team studying the effect of diet on the cardiovascular system in mice have shown that a diet low in carbohydrates could lead to artery damage.

Monkeys with two mums may eradicate mitochondrial disorders

Scientists have produced four infant monkeys using a technique which could stop women with genetic diseases passing them on to their children.

Patching a broken heart

A team of scientists have developed a patch which could help the heart to heal after damage.

I'm Not a Chimp

How similar are we really to chimpanzees?

Leishmania parasites feed immune cells

Researchers using mice have shown how the Leishmania parasite, transmitted by sand flies, establishes infection.

'Magnetic' stem cells target damaged blood vessels

Scientists have harnessed the power of magnetism to guide stem cells towards damaged tissue in rats.

New target for stopping colon cancer

A team of scientists studying mice have found a target that could lead to an effective way to kill colon cancer cells.

Delaying motor neurone disease

By blocking the production of a faulty protein in mice, researchers have delayed the onset of motor neurone disease, improved mobility, and extended life-span.

How infection can lead to psychiatric problems

Scientists using mice have discovered how early exposure to a common type of bacterium can lead to psychiatric disorders.

Nanobees deliver deadly sting

A group of scientists has harnessed the power of bee venom and used it to kill tumour cells in mice.

Schools drama released on DVD

Every Breath, an award-winning drama-based set of teaching resources from Y Touring Theatre Company is now available on DVD, free to schools.

Stopping cancer spreading

Working with 'substitute' breast cancer stem cells and mice, scientists have discovered a chemical which can kill the cells that cause tumours to spread and return, even after seemingly successful treatment.

Glaucoma reversed in rats and humans

Researchers have reversed the symptoms of glaucoma in rats using medicated eye drops.

Heart stimulated to heal itself

Scientists have shown for the first time that it is possible to stimulate the heart to heal itself without the use of stem cell technology.

Rodent teeth grow from stem cells

Mice have grown new teeth from stem cells implanted into the jawbone.

Animal wrongs

The editorial in today's Financial Times about responding to the appalling animal rights extremist attacks in Switzerland is spot on.

Testing, testing …

Why is the concept of animal research so difficult to grasp?

Chimps get AIDS too

Scientists have discovered that the natural hosts of a strain of SIV develop AIDS when infected.

Food dye aids spinal crush injury

A blue dye – similar to that used in M&Ms and liquorice allsorts – can help protect rats' crushed spinal cords from further damage.

Skin stem cells make mouse clones

A new kind of stem cell, that doesn't involve destroying embryos, has produced new life.

Snails, slime moulds and flies

Government funding for alternatives research, through NC3Rs, has nearly doubled this year compared with 2008.

Gene controller causes Down syndrome

Researchers have used mice to pinpoint what goes wrong in aneuploidy, which includes the most common genetic disorders involving chromosomes, usually an extra chromosome.

New way to reduce anaphylactic shock

Using mice, scientists have pinpointed the molecule which is responsible for making allergic reactions more severe.

Swine flu research

Our own modest contribution to swine flu information is now online, as the government estimates the number of new cases of swine flu in England reached 100,000 in the past week.

What do they know?

We recently became aware of a new website that can be used to make Freedom of Information requests and acts as an archive for all information received.

More research means more animals

The 2008 figures for use of animals in UK research were released today by the Home Office.

Fat busting pill?

An artificial hormone has reduced body weight and fat mass in mice, and fast.

PeTA boobs again

The latest completely irresponsible PeTA campaign uses a crass computer game to push its 'breasts not animal tests' message to children. The web is all a-twitter with reviews panning the game.

Single shot reverses rabies

UK bioscience sector publishes detailed response on European regulation

A dozen organisations representing UK bioscience have published their answers, many of them detailed, to 72 questions posed by the UK Home Office.

Caffeine halts Alzheimer's

Using GM mice, scientists have shown that caffeine can reduce dementia symptoms.

Elixir from Easter Island?

apamycin was found in soil on Easter Island 40 years ago.

Hype, hope and hybrids

The three-year public debate in the UK on animal-hybrid embryos was always a secondary issue for Understanding Animal Research and its forerunners, but an important one.

Medical drama

A TV dramatisation of Edwardian antivivisection protest on Sunday night in Casualty 1909 shows there's little new in the public debate over animal research and testing.

40,000 trout undercut costs, increase accuracy

The largest animal study ever on the cancer-causing risk (carcinogenicity) of chemicals could have profound implications for the species used in such testing, the numbers of animals used, and the accuracy of current tests.

Gene suppression in type 2 diabetes

Blocking the action of a gene called Sirtuin-1 reduced the symptoms of type 2 diabetes in rats, scientists have found.

Recommended reading

The National Centre for the Three Rs has produced a handy 'beginners guide' to the 3Rs - Refinement, Reduction and Replacement - and how they can benefit science, innovation and animal welfare.

Targeting skin cancer

Using fish, scientists have discovered a signalling pathway that could be used to treat skin cancers (melanomas).

A tale of three species

The law of unintended consequences may have led to saving rabbits at the expense of a two incredible species: a prehistoric invertebrate and a small bird with one of the most impressive known migrations.

GM mice get Parkinson's disease

Researchers have created a GM mouse that develops Parkinson's disease.

Novel gene therapy reverses haemophilia

Scientists using mice have developed a new way to deliver gene therapies.

An Odyssey exploring the debate

A book to be published soon promises a considered, less polarised approach to the animal rights debate.

Protein culprit in Huntington's disease

Why does Huntington's disease lead to the death of brain cells, whilst causing negligible damage to cells elsewhere in the body?

Nanoparticles seek out plaques in arteries

Researchers have designed small particles - ‘nanoparticles' - that are able to selectively bind to plaques in arteries.

Effect of breast cancer gene reversed

Scientists have identified a gene implicated in up to one fifth of breast cancers. The good news is that studies in mice seem to show a commonly-used blood pressure drug appears to reverse the effects of the gene.

Pig cells transplant potential

Scientists have found a way to turn adult cells from pigs into any tissue in the body.

UK bioscience sector submits evidence to Lords

The House of Lords European Union Committee, Sub-Committee D (Environment and Agriculture) has begun to take oral evidence on the revision of the European Directive on animal experimentation