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Animal research

Two students work inside a laboratory. Both students wear white lab coats and one passes a small petri dish to the other, who is smiling. Our animal research policy

Animal research

Why we use animals for research

Animal research plays a vital role in advancing our understanding of health and disease, and contributes to the development of modern medicine.

At the University of Leeds, our research includes fundamental studies, such as how nerves signal pain or how the immune system responds to infection, and targeted investigations into specific conditions like heart disease, diabetes, spinal injury, and mental illness. This work helps build the scientific knowledge that underpins medical progress for both humans and animals. 

We continue to reduce the need for animal research in many areas, through innovations such as synthetic tissue culture, organoids, advanced imaging and computer modelling.

Our approach to animal research

Animals are used only when no viable alternatives exist, and all research is conducted under strict ethical oversight, guided by the principles of Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement.

Case studies

Some examples of medical or scientific progress achieved at the University of Leeds through the use of animals.