UK minister reveals plan to reduce animal testing through greater use of AI | Medical research
Scientific testing on animals would be phased out more quickly under a new plan to increase the use of artificial intelligence and 3D bioprinted human tissue, a British minister has said.
The roadmap unveiled by Science Minister Patrick Vallance supports the replacement of some animal tests that are still used when necessary to determine the safety of products such as life-saving vaccines and the impact of pesticides on living beings and the environment.
The strategy asserts that phasing out the use of animals in science can only occur when reliable and effective alternative methods with the same level of safety for human exposure can replace them.
The government said new funding for researchers and streamlined 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.
Increased use of AI to analyze large amounts of data on molecules and predict whether new drugs will be safe and effective in humans would be deployed, while 3D bioprinted tissues could create realistic human tissue samples, from skin to liver, for testing.
Other plans under the strategy include ending regulatory animal testing to assess the potential for skin and eye irritation and skin sensitization by the end of 2026.
By 2027, researchers are expected, as part of the strategy, to end testing of botox’s potency on mice, while by 2030, pharmacokinetic studies – which track how a drug moves through the body over time – on dogs and non-human primates will be scaled back.
Lord Vallance said: “No one in our animal-loving country wants to see suffering, and our plan will support efforts to end animal testing where possible and roll out alternatives as soon as it is safe and effective.
“This is a roadmap that will ensure government, business and animal welfare groups can work together to find alternatives to animal testing more quickly and effectively. »
Barney Reed, science and policy lead for animals in science at the RSPCA, said: “This strategy sets out a clear ambition towards eliminating the use of animals and supports increased access to the infrastructure, collaborations and resources needed to facilitate the development and adoption of non-animal methods. This will help UK scientists adopt the high-quality, ethical science needed in a rapidly changing world.”
“If supported and implemented effectively, the strategy should create a good basis for accelerating animal replacement, which will be good news for animals, science and society. »
