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Here, we answer some key questions about animal research at UEA.
What animal research happens at UEA?
At the University of East Anglia (UEA), animals are used in scientific research when no viable alternative methods exist.
Our research focuses on understanding diseases that have a detrimental impact on human health and quality of life, including Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. All research involving animals at UEA is strictly regulated and conducted in accordance with UK law, which requires ethical review and justification for the use of animals.
We are committed to meeting the highest standards of animal welfare and care, and we are always actively looking at ways to reduce and replace the use of animals in research, wherever possible.
Why do we use animals in our research?
Animals are used in research to better understand human and animal health, to study diseases and develop treatments.
The vast majority of research done at UEA either does not require the use of animal models or uses replacement techniques such as cell and tissue culture, molecular biology, computer modelling and the study of samples from humans – in order to minimise our use of animals. However, currently there is no method that can replicate the complexity of the whole living body. However, in some cases, where no alternatives are available, we use live animals in research.
Using in vivo animal models can provide insights that are not always possible using alternative methods, and many medical advances, including vaccines, cancer treatments, and surgical procedures, have been developed through animal research.
Are there viable alternatives to animal research?
At UEA, animals are used in scientific research when no viable alternative methods exist. While alternative methods such as computer simulations, cell cultures, and synthetic biology are being developed, they cannot yet fully replace animal research. Testing on humans directly, especially in the early stages of research, would be unethical and dangerous, as the safety and effectiveness of new treatments must first be established.
What species are used?
The University conducts animal research using small species – currently mice, zebrafish and Xenopus frogs.
We also study species such as bees, beetles and Drosophila flies – however, these are not classed as ‘protected animals’ under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
How many animals are used?
The number of animals used in research at UEA varies each year, depending on the research projects underway. You can view the most recent statistics on the number of animals used at UEA through the Facts and Figures section of our Animal Research Concordat page. You can also view our Freedom of Information page. UEA is committed to transparency and regularly reports these numbers.
What conditions are the animals kept in?
Animal welfare is paramount, so our animals are kept in modern, clean facilities that maximise their comfort and wellbeing and meet or exceed UK legal standards. We uphold strict ethical, hygiene and environmental standards and our premises are checked regularly by Home Office inspectors.
Conditions are also regularly monitored by qualified animal care staff and an independent veterinary surgeon to ensure that the animals are healthy and comfortable. Where possible, animals are housed in social groups, and they are provided with appropriate food, water and environmental enrichment to ensure their wellbeing.
How is animal welfare protected?
At UEA, the welfare of animals used in research is a top priority. We comply with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, which provides a legal framework to protect animals in research.
Our research is reviewed by UEA’s Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body (AWERB), which includes experts in animal care, ethics, and independent representatives. AWERB also reviews animal projects that do not involve regulated procedures. This includes fieldwork research and observational studies, to ensure the natural habitats and environments of the subjects remain undisturbed by research.
Using animals in research is strictly regulated by the Home Office – to ensure that the work done is scientifically justified and that no animal undergoes unnecessary suffering.
We use animals of the lowest neurophysiological sensitivity possible to obtain robust scientific data, and we fully support the development of appropriate alternatives that minimise the use of animals in research.
Does UEA use animals for cosmetics testing?
No. The use of animals for research in the use of cosmetics has been illegal in the UK since 1998 and across the EU since 2013.
Do the animals suffer?
The UK has strict regulations to ensure that any potential harm to animals is minimised. We act legally, responsibly and compassionately in all our animal work.
Research at UEA is underpinned by the guiding principles of the three Rs - Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement – which aims to minimise the use of animals and their suffering.
All animal research undergoes ethical review. Rigorous welfare monitoring procedures and staff training are in place to minimise any discomfort or distress and reduce any potential suffering to an absolute minimum.
We monitor our animals closely for indicators of distress throughout all research procedures, and use painkillers and anaesthesia wherever possible to minimise suffering.
What kind of procedures happen at UEA?
Most of our research procedures on animals are classed as ‘moderate’ or below. Moderate procedures might cause some suffering, but short-term only. An example would be a surgical procedure such as vasectomy.
Other procedures are classed as ‘mild’, which cause minimal and brief suffering – for instance, removal of blood for testing – or ‘sub threshold’ where no suffering is caused. This could refer to, for example, a genetically modified animal born in a breeding programme.