The ten organisations in Great Britain that conducted the highest number of animal procedures for medical, veterinary, and scientific research have released their annual statistics for 2024. The University of Cambridge published its own figures on its website to support transparency regarding animal use in research.
This release aligns with the Home Office's publication of national statistics on scientific procedures involving living animals in Great Britain for 2024. The combined total from these ten organisations was 1,379,399 procedures. More than 99% of these involved mice, fish, rats, and birds. Of all procedures reported, 82% were classified as causing pain equivalent to or less than an injection.
For the tenth year in a row, these organisations have jointly publicised their collective statistics and provided examples of their research. In addition to these ten institutions—including The Francis Crick Institute (200,055 procedures), University of Oxford (199,730), University of Cambridge (190,448), UCL (175,687), Medical Research Council (140,602), University of Edinburgh (136,862), King's College London (106,300), University of Glasgow (99,509), University of Manchester (81,252), and Imperial College London (48,954)—a total of 72 organisations voluntarily published their animal research data for the year.
All participating organisations adhere to the ethical framework known as the ‘3Rs’: replacement (avoiding or replacing animal use where possible), reduction (minimising the number used per experiment), and refinement (optimising conditions to improve welfare). Despite efforts to reduce numbers per study, overall totals may rise as research activity expands.
These institutions are also signatories to the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research in the UK. Over 130 entities—including universities and medical charities—have signed this agreement committing them to greater transparency about animal use in scientific work.
Wendy Jarrett, Chief Executive of Understanding Animal Research—the group behind the Concordat—said: “Animal research remains a small but vital part of the quest for new medicines, vaccines and treatments for humans and animals. Alternative methods are increasingly being phased in, but until we have sufficient reliable alternatives available it is important that organisations that use animals in research maintain the public’s trust in them. By providing this level of information about the numbers of animals used and the experience of those animals as well as details of the medical breakthroughs that derive from this research these Concordat signatories are helping the public to make up their own minds about how they feel about the use of animals in scientific research in Great Britain.”
Professor Jon Simons, Head of School at Biological Sciences at Cambridge said: “Animal research remains critical for understanding complex biological systems and is an essential step in development new medicines vaccines and treatments for both humans and animals. We are committed to continuing to reduce number animals used biomedical research our scientists actively working new methods techniques will provide robust scientific alternatives.”
A case study highlighted ongoing dementia drug discovery at Cambridge’s ALBORADA Drug Discovery Institute. David Harrison explained: “Dementia has often been viewed as something that happens normally as people age but it's not It's a disease that we need treat so people can live well stay independent later life.” He noted many pharmaceutical companies have withdrawn from dementia drug development due to high risk.
Harrison’s team designs chemical molecules—potential drugs—and tests them using both laboratory models and animal studies. He stated: “Almost one million people are estimated be living with dementia UK We need find better treatment options The animals we use are an essential part drug discovery process they could help us change people’s lives.”