Research

Animal Testing Alternatives: The Path to Fewer Animal Experiments

Modern science is developing powerful alternatives to animal testing that reduce suffering while improving the reliability of results.

Key Facts

Over 100 million animals are used in experiments globally each year
The US EPA committed in 2019 to eliminating mammal studies by 2035
Organ-on-a-chip technology models human physiology more accurately than animal models
3D tissue models and organoids can replicate human tumor behavior for cancer research
The EU spent 1.4 billion euros on alternatives research between 2007-2013

Welfare Considerations

Animals in research suffer from injection procedures, surgical interventions, induced disease, social isolation, and killing. Even well-managed research facilities cause significant distress. The 3Rs framework (Replace, Reduce, Refine) provides a roadmap for reducing harm. New technologies are increasingly outperforming animal models for predicting human drug responses, creating alignment between scientific and ethical goals.

What You Can Do

Support funding for alternatives research organizations like the Humane Society HSUS
Choose cosmetics certified cruelty-free by PETA or Leaping Bunny
Advocate for faster regulatory approval of validated alternative testing methods
Donate to the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT)
Engage with your representatives to support the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 provisions