Rabbits are the third most used animal in biomedical research, subjected to tests including the Draize eye test, with significant welfare implications.
Rabbits in research face multiple welfare challenges: isolation (they are social animals), inadequate space, inability to express natural behaviors, and invasive procedures. The Draize test, still used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical testing in many countries, causes significant ocular pain and is widely condemned by veterinary welfare experts. Validated in vitro alternatives exist but adoption has been incomplete.