Research Animals

Reducing Animal Testing Through Better Science

Improving the quality of animal research through better experimental design and reporting reduces unnecessary animal use while also improving research reproducibility and scientific value.

Key Facts

An estimated 50% of animal research may be unreproducible, meaning animals are suffering for inconclusive science
ARRIVE guidelines for animal research reporting have been adopted by hundreds of journals but compliance remains incomplete
Statistical power calculations performed before experiments can significantly reduce animal numbers needed for valid results
Systematic reviews of existing animal data before new studies reduce duplication that causes unnecessary animal use

Welfare Considerations

Improving animal research quality is a welfare intervention in itself — every unreproducible study involved animals who suffered without contributing to knowledge. Adopting ARRIVE reporting standards, performing proper power calculations, and conducting systematic reviews before new studies are conducted reduces animal use while improving science. These improvements have no welfare cost and significant welfare and scientific benefit.

What You Can Do

Support journals that require ARRIVE guideline compliance for animal research publications
Advocate for systematic review requirements before new animal studies are funded
Encourage researchers to perform power calculations and publish negative results to reduce duplication
Support animal research ethics committees that scrutinize scientific quality as well as welfare standards
Donate to organizations promoting reproducibility and quality in animal research as a welfare intervention