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The Home Office keeps records of how many animals are used in scientific procedures in the UK every year. These are published annually and can be accessed on the .

¹û¶³Ó°Ôº is committed to being open about our use of animals in scientific research. As part of this commitment, we audit and publish the number of animals used in ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº research.

In 2023, ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº carried out 176,019 procedures using animals. 79% of these procedures were classified as mild (such as an injection, blood sample or short-term social isolation), or below the threshold for mild severity.

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Severity data for 2023:

Severity	Number of procedures	Percentage of total
Sub-threshold	57,061	32%
Mild	82,540	47%
Moderate	31,054	18%
Severe	623	0.4%
Non-recovery	4,741	2.7%

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¹û¶³Ó°Ôº is a large institution with over 5,500 staff across the fourÌýbiomedical-focused faculties, and over 16,000 staff acros the whole university. We have a high research output, with new scientific results being published every day as we strive to increase our knowledge of human and animal health. To achieve valid results, some research projects require the use of many animals. For example, new cancer treatments may need to be tested on large groups of mice in order to reliably determine how effective the treatments are.

Animals are only used where alternatives are not available, and 'transgenic' (genetically modified) mice have replaced many higher orders of animal as a model for human diseases. The use of rats, hamsters and larger animals continues to decrease nationwide as a result of more research transitioning to transgenic mice and alternative models. We constantly strive to replace, reduce and refine our use of animals for research.

Mice

Despite advances in non-animal models, transgenic mice often offer the best way to learn about human diseases. 80% of human genes are also in mice, making them a good starting point for research into human conditions. Genetically modifying mice to insert or remove genes is a well-established way of finding out what specific genes actually do. This helps researchers to find out what role genes play in the development of diseases such as cancer and heart disease, information which can then be used to develop better treatments.

Zebrafish

Zebrafish are small tropical fish, initially used for studying gene function in early embryonic development and now used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines. 84% of genes implicated in human disease are found in zebrafish and this, in addition to their transparent embryos and ease of genetic manipulation make them good candidates for biomedical research.

The science ranges from early embryonic development, including early stage eye and brain development, through to behavioural research such as sleep and social behaviours, and the study of human diseases such as blood disorders and cancer.

Non-human primates

¹û¶³Ó°Ôº no longer houses any non-human primates (NHP) and there are currently no studies using them at the university. They have previously been used in research aimed at developing an understanding of complex brain mechanisms at the level most relevant to humans for which no other valid model exists. NHPs can represent a valuable animal model for human function and are particularly important for research into neurological and psychiatric diseases, diseases which now affect over 1 billion people worldwide.

Non-human primate work is only conducted when there are no alternatives available. If NHPs are the only appropriate models for researchers to answer important medical or scientific questions, their use will be considered by the relevant committees. See how we protect animals for further information on the research approval process.

Cats

There are currently no studies using cats taking place at ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº. They have been used as models for eye disease and spinal cord injury in the past, where no alternatives were available. If cats are the only appropriate models for researchers to answer important medical or scientific questions, their use will be considered by the relevant committees.

Dogs

There are currently no studies using dogs taking place at ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº. If dogs are the only appropriate models for researchers to answer important medical or scientific questions, their use will be considered by the relevant committees.

Additional Data Capture 2017

In addition to the use of animals in regulated procedures and reported through the Annual Return of Procedures, ¹û¶³Ó°Ôº also maintains breeding colonies of rodents for supply and use within the university, thereby avoiding the stresses otherwise associated with their transport and relocation.

While they are not used in regulated procedures, these animals are useful to scientific research as some are used as sentinels to monitor the health of other animals, some form part of breeding programmes but did not express the required mutation, while others are bred for the purpose of providing tissues which may be used in cell culture studies. Sometimes the use of tissues can help prevent the use of animals in procedures altogether.

During 2017, statistical analysis of the number and type of animals involved in this category was captured and reported to the Home Office in accordance with the requirements of EU Directive 2013/63.

Details of the 2017 figures, and further detail about how the animals referenced are used,Ìýare available here.

Further information

Image

• Zebrafish eye and neuromasts, taken using confocal microscopy by Ingrid Leek and Professor Steve Wilson (¹û¶³Ó°Ôº Biosciences), winner at the