UK announces AI-driven strategy to reduce animal testing

The UK Science Minister, Patrick Vallance, unveiled a new plan to phase out animal testing and increase the use of Artificial intelligence (AI) and 3D bioprinted human tissues.

The new strategy suggests that by replacing certain animal tests that are still used to determine quality assurance, such as for life-saving vaccines and the consequences pesticides have on living beings and the environment, it will lead to better results.

However, the new roadmap demonstrated that discontinuing the use of animals in science can only happen when successful approaches with the same level of safety for human exposure can replace them.

In this connection, the government is planning for new funding techniques for researchers and modernized rules that would help to implement methods such as organ-on-a-chip systems-tiny devices that stimulate how human organs work by using real human cells.

The use of AI will help to process the large amounts of data about molecules and predict whether new medicine will be effective in humans, while 3D bioprinted tissues could create human biosamples from skin to liver for relevant testing.

Lord Vallance was of the view that our plan is to support efforts to end animal testing wherever possible and introduce alternatives as soon as it is safe and effective to do so.

The UK’s minister plan provides a clear ambition to phase out animal testing. It is fully committed to increased access to infrastructure and collaborations, and to accelerating the transition to human-relevant alternatives to embrace the high standards needed in a rapidly changing world.