The Medical Research Council (MRC) considers the use of animals to be necessary in many areas of biomedical research in order to better understand the living body and what goes wrong in disease. Animal research is essential in the development of safe and effective ways of preventing or treating diseases.
All our animal research is conducted in accordance with UK law and ethically approved by an independent review board. MRC researchers are expected to follow the highest standards of animal welfare.
Replacement, refinement and reduction (3Rs)
The principles and examples of the 3Rs in practice
Facts and figures
The number of procedures carried out as part of research programmes in MRC-owned establishments in 2021
Guidance, resources and further information
Various sets of guidance concerning the use of animals in research
Medical breakthroughs underpinned by animal research
Recent examples of lifesaving treatments that were developed thanks to animal research
Regulation and policy
The key regulations and policies involved in animal research
Supporting animal welfare
What we expect from organisations using animals in their research
Why we use animals
Our criteria for funding the use of animals in research
Sex in experimental design
MRC requires both sexes to be used in the experimental design of grant applications involving animals, and human and animal tissues and cells