Ten organisations in Great Britain conducting the highest number of animal procedures in medical, veterinary, and scientific research have published their annual statistics for 2024. This release coincides with the Home Office's report detailing scientific procedures on living animals in the UK.

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In total, the organisations reported 1,379,399 procedures, with more than 99% involving mice, fish, rats, and birds. Additionally, 82% of these procedures were classified as causing pain equivalent to, or less than, an injection.

The listed organisations and their respective total procedures for 2024 are as follows:

- The Francis Crick Institute: 200,055

- 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

- Imperial College London: 48,954

Total: 1,379,399 procedures.

A total of 72 organisations have voluntarily shared their animal research statistics for 2024. All participating organisations adhere to the ethical framework known as the ‘3Rs’—replacement, reduction, and refinement—aiming to minimise animal use whenever possible and enhance their welfare.

All organisations listed are signatories of the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research in the UK, which promotes transparency regarding the use of animals in research. More than 130 organisations, including UK universities, medical research charities, and commercial research bodies, have signed this Concordat.

Wendy Jarrett, Chief Executive of Understanding Animal Research, commented on the importance of maintaining public trust in animal research, emphasizing that while alternatives are being developed, animal research still plays a crucial role in medical advancements.

Professor Jon Simons, from the University of Cambridge, highlighted that animal research is essential for understanding complex biological systems and is critical in the advancement of new treatments.

A case study from the University of Cambridge illustrated the significance of animal models in researching dementia treatments. David Harrison, from the ALBORADA Drug Discovery Institute, noted the necessity of animal research in the careful development of drugs for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, as it helps assess how various treatments impact brain cell interactions and overall health.

Harrison emphasized the urgency of finding effective treatments for the nearly one million people living with dementia in the UK, stating that animal research plays an essential role in the drug discovery process.