The use of animals in scientific research remains one of the most ethically contested areas of animal welfare, with ongoing debates about necessity, alternatives, oversight and the balance between scientific benefit and animal suffering.
Animal research welfare exists within a regulatory framework that requires ethical justification for every project. Unlike farm or companion animal welfare, which can deteriorate through neglect or inadequate standards, research animal welfare is in principle actively reviewed before harm is caused. However, the quality of ethical review varies, and the cost-benefit assessment requires predicting scientific outcomes that may not materialise. Research animals experience a range of welfare impacts from minimal (blood sampling from anaesthetised animals) to severe (long-duration oncology studies). Transparency in research animal welfare reporting has improved but remains limited compared to other welfare contexts. Public understanding of animal research welfare is generally low.