The use of animals in research

Alzheimer's Society is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), and supports the AMRC's position statement on using animals in research. Therefore, the Alzheimer's Society's position statement reflects that of the AMRC. 

Medical research involving animals has brought major improvements to the health and well-being of humans, for example deep brain stimulation to relieve the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

There are difficult ethical judgments to be made over the use of animals in medical research, but there is no doubt that the use of animals continues to be essential in some areas of research if people are to benefit from healthcare advances. Alzheimer's Society research programme aims to move us closer to a cure and improve the quality of life of people living with dementia.

Background

Drugs and new treatments that many of us take for granted, from antibiotics to blood transfusions and the current drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease, would have been impossible to develop without research involving animals.

Many people are concerned about the well-being of animals used in medical research.  Alzheimer's Society shares those concerns and strives to ensure that alternatives are used wherever possible. The majority of Alzheimer's Society's research programme does not involve animals, and they are only used where there is no alternative and fully justified. Currently, maggots, fruit flies, mice and rats are used in research supported by the Society funding programme. The Society does not currently fund any research using primates. The minimum number of animals are used to provide clear data in well-designed experiments and researchers keep to the highest standards of animal welfare. The use of animals has to be justified in every project that proposes to use them, and is subject to robust peer review.

The Society plans its research carefully to ensure that it is relevant, well thought out and avoids duplication.  Currently the Society spends £2 million a year on new research. On average a third of this is used on research involving animals. The other two-thirds is spent on a variety of alternative research methods, including test-tube and cell culture experiments, clinical trials, psychosocial research and epidemiological surveys.

However, the Alzheimer's Society and its trustees believe that funding medical research with animals remains essential if we are ultimately going to understand the causes of dementia and develop effective treatments.

In the UK, animal experiments are strictly regulated by law - the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 - as well as further guidance from the Home Office. These regulations are the tightest in the world.  Alzheimer's Society supports these laws and requires scientists it funds to comply with them.

Despite these arguments, we also recognise that some donors and supporters continue to hold moral objections to the use of animals in research. The Society also funds a large programme of research that does not involve animals. The wishes of any donor wanting to support research that does not involve animals will be fully respected.

Last reviewed February 2012
Laura Cook
Policy Officer