Replacing Animal Experiments

There is a huge range of non-animal research techniques that, as well as being a more humane approach to science, can also be cheaper, quicker and more effective. These include cell, tissue and organ culture; micro-organisms such as bacteria; molecular research; studies with post-mortem tissues; computer simulations, including QSARs; population studies (epidemiology) and clinical research with human volunteers.

European law clearly states that where a non-animal alternative is available, the animal-test equivalent must not be performed. Article 7.2 of EU Directive 86/609/EC (which deals with animal experimentation in the EU) states that:

"An experiment [animal] shall not be performed if another scientifically satisfactory method of obtaining the result sought, not entailing the use of an animal, is reasonably and practically available."

Article 23.1 also states that EU governments should promote non-animal alternatives:

"The Commission and Member States should encourage research into the development and validation of alternative techniques, which could provide the same level of information as that obtained in experiments using animals but which involve fewer animals or which entail less painful procedures."

REACH legislation (which aims to establish whether chemicals are safe for humans and the environment) also promotes "alternative methods for assessments of hazards of substances" and points to the development of alternatives as a priority for future EU research.

However, despite the protection laboratory animals are supposed to receive by law, the reality is often very different due to:

inadequate funding for alternatives development
lack of political will to make non-animal research a priority
reluctance of animal researchers to find alternatives because they view animal tests as 'traditional'
the conservative approach of regulatory authorities that still insist on animal experiments
the process of test method validation can take many years (typically 9-11 years) before a non-animal method is accepted for use as a complete replacement to animal tests.

The ECEAE works to ensure that existing legislation and guidelines are revised to incorporate animal-free test methods to replace animal experiments, and that sufficient funding and political will are available for the further development of non-animal methods.

Scientific documents prepared by the European Coalition as well as detailed communication with representatives of the Commission and Parliament, have already resulted in a better understanding of the advantages of non-animal testing strategies for the safety assessment of substances with regard to the protection of consumers and the environment.

Some examples of alternatives available are:

QSARs (Quantitative Structure/Activity Relationship programs)
These are computer programs which can predict the toxicity of new chemicals or drugs based on their similarity to more established compounds.

Silicon chip technology
Allows rapid identification of genes whose activity changes in response to certain diseases and drugs. Can help identify both whether a drug or chemical is going to be therapeutic or harmful.

Cell Cultures
Almost every type of human cell can be grown in culture, although the cells behave more simplistically than in the living body. Cellular systems have been central to key research into cancers, sepsis, kidney disease and AIDS, and are routinely used in chemical safety testing, vaccine production, drug development and to diagnose disease.

Human Tissues
Both healthy and diseased tissues can be donated from human volunteers after biopsies, surgery or death. Blood or urine samples can also be easily taken. Post-mortem brain tissue has provided important leads to understanding brain regeneration and the effects of MS.

Reconstituted Human Epidermis (RHE) models
To detect whether chemicals are likely to be irritating to the skin we can now use reconstituted human skin derived from donated, unwanted skin from cosmetic surgery. One in vitro model based on this design has recently been shown to be more effective than the original rabbit Draize test which it replaces.

Volunteer studies
Examples of this include MRI which generates detailed pictures of the brain and, when used in conjunction with other techniques, can identify the location of specific brain activities and microdosing which involves giving very tiny doses of a chemical compound to human volunteers in order to monitor where it goes in the body.

Population research
Studying illnesses in human populations to understand the roles of genes, lifestyle, diet and occupation, has had a tremendous impact on saving lives, especially from cancer and heart disease.

The way forward

There is, sadly, significant resistance to ending animal experiments from researchers, industry, academics and institutions. The superficially persuasive claim that if scientists could replace animals in scientific procedures they would do so simply does not reflect the real world in which science is practiced. Changes in both policies and paradigms require more than good will and new technology.

The EU must ensure that the imperative to use non-animal techniques, and the ability of animals to suffer and feel pain, is fully shared with those who currently use animals in research.

Bureaucratic hurdles must also be cleared. Huge improvements are needed to streamline the operation of the European validation process — and the EU must also lead a progressive process which results in funding and legislative bodies preferentially funding non-animal research and investing in long-term development projects.

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Replacing Animal Experiments

The way forward