Animal research

The regulation of platelet function

Microvesicles and the prevention of tissue wasting

Regulation/role of the ERK 1/2 cascade in the heart

Antibody production

Why is research with animals needed?

How do we ensure that experiments are justified and regulated?

How is animal welfare ensured?

Where does research take place?

Who works in the biological resource unit (BRU)?

Which types of animals are used?

How many animals are used?

What about alternatives to animal research?

Do you test cosmetics or household products on animals?

Do the animals used in research at the University of Reading experience adverse effects?

Does anyone from outside the University of Reading use the Biological Research Unit (BRU)?

Why is research with animals needed?

The University of Reading considers the use of animals in biomedical research to be essential for the development of strategies to prevent or treat serious diseases.

This only ever follows extensive non-animal work, for example using cell culture techniques or drug development programmes. Frequently, however, the way in which molecules and cells behave in the body cannot be reproduced precisely outside of the body, and many disease states cannot be simulated artificially.

In some cases we study a human disease that is induced in an animal, in order to study how it develops or whether we can successfully treat it.

We realise that sometimes biological processes in humans and other species are not identical, and therefore we only use the most appropriate animal techniques. This avoids spurious results that could lead to the development of drugs that might endanger human health.

Using animals in research is not an easy decision, and therefore animals are used only where justified by prior experiments, where the ill-effects of experiments can be minimised and where no alternative in vitro (non-animal based) approaches are possible.

In agricultural research, the use of animals is necessary to find ways to improve animal health, welfare and nutrition, and to reduce the impact of farming on the environment.

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How do we ensure that experiments are justified and regulated?

Prior to experiments using animals, sufficient evidence from previous non-animal research is required. To help in the process of determining what is appropriate and what is not, a carefully regulated process is in place to assess and authorise research where the potential suffering of animals is weighed against potential benefits to human health.

Each research leader is required to hold a licence granted by the UK Secretary of State for the Home Department (the Home Office), in which the precise details of experiments and the procedures to be used are documented.

Prior to a licence being granted, it must be approved by a dedicated local ethics review panel which includes experienced researchers, lay members of the public and experts in animal welfare. The panel helps to ensure that the highest standards of welfare are maintained, and may advise on the use of alternative approaches where evidence suggests that they have a lesser impact on animal wellbeing.

The plan of research must also be approved by a Home Office Inspector, an expert usually with veterinary expertise, who will also advise and help design the most appropriate and acceptable techniques. Adherence to the precise details of licences is overseen closely by the Inspector, who may visit at any time.

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How is animal welfare ensured?

Animal welfare is protected by law through the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (as amended), which forms the basis of licencing and inspection system.

All those involved in research using animals hold the responsibility to uphold the highest standards of animal welfare, and of paramount importance for this is training. Every researcher that uses animals in their work receives nationally accredited training to ensure appropriate technical competence, understanding of the key issues that impact on animal welfare, and are trained to recognise the signs of suffering in the species that they will use.

Training enables each researcher to gain a Personal Licence from the Home Secretary that allows work with the specific species with which they have been trained. All experimental work has a maximal level of severity (with respect to discomfort or other measurements), and should the outcome of an experiment unexpectedly appear likely to exceed this, the experiment will be stopped, and if appropriate the animal will be put to sleep using a humane method. This happens very rarely, because prior work enables us to assess potential risks and plan accordingly.

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Where does research take place?

The majority of animal research at Reading takes place within the biological resource unit (BRU). This is a specialised safe and secure facility where animals are looked after, and where research using these animals is performed. It is staffed by expert animal care and welfare officers, whose role is to ensure the highest levels of care. Some agricultural research involving animals takes place in specialist units at the University’s farms.

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Who works in the biological resource unit (BRU)?

The BRU is staffed by a team of professional animal husbandry experts, headed by an Animal Care and Welfare Officer. The paramount responsibility of this team is ensuring that each animal is properly cared for. They hold the authority to stop any experiment if they encounter unexpected effects on animal health.

Working closely alongside researchers and the BRU team is a veterinary surgeon with appropriate experience who helps at all levels, from the design of experiments to closely monitoring animals for signs of unexpected outcomes. Together this research management structure ensures that animal welfare takes precedence over all other factors.

As a research community we take our responsibilities for animal health very seriously, and share experiences and best practice. If we are unsure or unable to fully justify experiments, weighing potential benefits against potential ill-effects to animals, work does not proceed.

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Which types of animals are used?

Within the BRU at the University of Reading we use only small species such as mice, rats, zebrafish, and occasionally, rabbits. We do not use larger species such as cats, dogs and non-human primates in the lab at Reading, although the University carries out some licensed research with farm animals, such as cows, pigs, sheep, and llamas.

In recent years, gene engineering and editing technologies have been established, and from this the generation and use of transgenic animals (particularly mice) have become essential to develop detailed understanding of disease and its prevention or treatment. Transgenic animals have usually been engineered to lack a specific gene, sometimes in particular cell types, or they have had a normal gene replaced with a mutant form that replicates a disease-causing mutation. The breeding and study of transgenic mice has been increasingly important to biomedical research at Reading and constitutes a large proportion of our work with mice.

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How many animals are used?

Year to year this varies, but in in a typical year 15 to 20 projects will be running in which between 1,000 and 5,000 animals may be used. Around 90% of these animals will be mice or rats.

We publish full statistics for animal procedures annually. A breakdown of the last seven years, including areas of research and types of animals, is given in the table:

During 2023 the University of Reading saw a return to research activity at pre-pandemic levels and hence a rise in overall numbers.

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What about alternatives to animal research?

Researchers at Reading are leading the way to reduce the use of animals in research – a process known as ‘the 3Rs’ (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement). We place the 3Rs at the centre of the design of our work.

We are not permitted to use protected animals in research if alternative approaches are possible that do not require the use of animals. We strive to minimise the need for research using animals, and where no alternatives are available, we work to ensure that the numbers of animals are kept to the lowest level possible, while maintaining the ability to produce useful scientific results.

Our work also involves the design and use of new techniques that minimise the chance that an experiment may result in pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm. This research influences improvements in animal welfare in laboratories around the world.

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Do you test cosmetics or household products on animals?

No. It is illegal to test cosmetics or their ingredients on animals in the UK, and has been since 1998.

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Do the animals used in research at the University of Reading experience adverse effects?

Animal welfare is protected by law through the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (as amended), which forms the basis of licencing and inspection system.

The effects of procedures on animals are classified as 'sub-threshold', ‘mild’, ‘moderate’, ‘severe’ or ‘non-recovery’ based upon the degree of pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm that the animal is expected to experience. The expected severity of a procedure is currently determined during the licence application.

Most procedures carried out on animals at the University of Reading are classified as ’sub-threshold’, or ‘mild’ or ‘moderate’ severity. ‘Sub-threshold’ means the animal does not experience discomfort as a result of the procedure. For procedures that are classed as ‘mild’ or ‘moderate’ severity, there is a chance that animals will experience mild or moderate pain, suffering or distress, but generally for only short periods of time. Procedures classified as ‘severe’ may cause severe pain, suffering or distress, or long-lasting moderate pain, suffering or distress. ‘Non-recovery’ means the animal is placed under general anaesthetic before the start of the procedure and is humanely killed without ever regaining consciousness.

Examples of procedures of differing severity can be found on the Understanding Animal Research website.

In 2023, 1219 procedures carried out by the University of Reading were classified as sub-threshold, roughly evenly split between mice and fish; 55 as non-recovery (rats); 326 as mild (177 procedures on cattle, 74 procedures on rats, 65 procedures on mice, and 10 procedures on llamas); 458 as moderate (89% mice, 10% rats, 1% cattle) ; and two (2) as severe (one mouse, one rat).

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Does anyone from outside the University of Reading use the Biological Research Unit (BRU)?

Yes. The University has agreements with several external clients and collaborators who hold appropriate licences, allowing them to use the animal facilities at the University. All animal procedures carried out at the University are governed by law and anyone who carries out experiments involving animals holds valid licences issued by the Home Secretary. Animal welfare is paramount, and the BRU is staffed by a team of professional animal husbandry experts, headed by an Animal Care and Welfare Officer.

In 2023, the total number of animals involved in research by external clients was 3093.

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