Why are animals used in scientific research?
Animal research, or animal testing, is the scientific study of animals, usually in a laboratory, for the purpose of gaining new biological knowledge or solving specific medical, veterinary, or biological problems.
Scientific research using animals is vital to our continued and improved understanding of human and animal health. Animals are used to help us understand living organisms, study disease, and develop and test new medical treatments.
Animal research is also used to keep people, animals and the environment safe from new medicines and chemicals. Animal research is heavily regulated in the UK and can only take place with permission from the Home Office and when there is no other way to do the research.
New methods of research are constantly in development including non-animal methods such as organs on a chip, cell cultures, and computer models. However, at this time there is no method, singular or combined, which is capable of recreating the complexity of a whole living body.
Last edited: 6 February 2026 11:33