UK minister unveils plan to cut animal testing through greater use of AI | Medical research

Animal testing in science will be phased out more quickly under a new plan to increase the use of artificial intelligence and 3D bioprinting of human tissue, a British minister has said.

The roadmap unveiled by Science Minister Patrick Vallance will replace some of the animal tests still used where necessary to determine the safety of products such as life-saving vaccines, as well as the effects of pesticides on living things and the environment.

The strategy states that phasing out the use of animals in science can only happen when they are replaced by reliable and effective alternative methods with the same level of safety for human exposure.

The government said new funding for researchers and simplified regulation would help develop methods such as organ-on-a-chip systems – tiny devices that mimic the functioning of human organs using real human cells.

There will be greater use of artificial intelligence to analyze vast amounts of molecular data and predict whether new drugs will be safe and work well in people, while 3D bioprinted tissues can create realistic samples of human tissue, from skin to liver, for testing.

Other plans under the strategy include ending regulatory testing on animals to assess the potential for skin and eye irritation and skin sensitization by the end of 2026.

As part of the strategy, researchers are expected to stop testing Botox's effectiveness in mice by 2027, and by 2030, pharmacokinetic studies that track how the drug moves through the body over time in dogs and primates will be curtailed.

Lord Vallance said: “No one in our country of animal lovers wants to see suffering and our plan will support work to stop animal testing where possible and introduce alternatives as soon as it is safe and effective to do so.

“This is a roadmap that will enable government, business and animal welfare groups to work together to find alternatives to animal testing faster and more effectively.”

Barney Reid, RSPCA Animal Science and Policy Manager, said: “This strategy sets a clear target to eliminate the use of animals and supports increased access to the infrastructure, collaboration and resources needed to facilitate the further development and uptake of non-animal methods. This will help UK scientists embrace the high quality, ethical science needed in a rapidly changing world.”

“If this strategy is supported and effectively implemented, it should set a good foundation for accelerating animal replacement, which will be positive news for animals, science and society.”