On 11 November 2025 the UK government launched a new plan for supporting non-animal research approaches. The plan, ‘Replacing animals in science: A strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods’, recognises the focus on an evidence-led approach to replacing, reducing and refining the use of animals in research.
The strategy sets out a long-term, evidence-driven approach for phasing out animal use, outlining how the UK will invest in research, validation frameworks and regulatory readiness for advanced non-animal methods.
The strategy recognises that a safe and successful transition requires building the evidence base for new methods and validating them against existing gold standards.
Key measures include:
- A strengthened commitment to evidence-based decision-making when determining where and how animal use can be phased out.
- The planned creation of a national centre for validation, ensuring new methods meet rigorous criteria.
- The biannual reintroduction of the ‘public perceptions’ survey which the sector has been calling for since it was halted during the COVID-19 pandemic
Dr Stella Koutsikou, Chair of the Society’s in vivo taskforce, said:
‘The Government’s commitment to a science-led approach at the heart of this new strategy recognises that animals in research will continue to play a core role in studying how the body works in health and in disease for many years to come. We look forward to supporting the effective implementation of this strategy, to ensure we continue to advance physiology, health and animal welfare.’
The Society, a founding signatory to the Concordat on Openness in Research and reports annually on how it is progressing a more open and transparent approach to the use of animals in research.
Media Contact
Andrew Mackenzie
Associate Director of External Affairs and Strategy
The Physiological Society
amackenzie@physoc.org