Animal Research at UKHSA
The UK continually faces a wide range of health security threats. The mission of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is to protect our communities from infectious diseases and the impact of chemical, radiological and other environmental health hazzards. Scientific research is fundamental to achieving these goals. Currently, and in response to technological advancements, this research requires the use of animals to reproduce the complexities of the immune systeem and other important physiological functions that are similar to those of humans, when reacting to infections and other challenges to wellbeing.
Why Animal Research is Important
Animal research plays an essential role in understanding how infectious, radiological, chemical and other environmental agents impact human health (Figure 1). The biological similarities between humans and other species means that they can, on some occasions, be the only effective model for research where responses to agents is too complex to be modelled in any other way. Alongside other evolving technologies such as tissue and organ culture, the animal work conducted at the 3 UKHSA sites provides an essential capability for health security as well as opportunities for scientific advancement aligned to UKHSA’s mission of interest to R&D funders internationally. UKHSA has substantial experience in assisting in the development of countermeasures to protect the population from health threats.
More specifically, animals are used within UKHSA research to:
- improve methods of diagnosis and to identify the severity of new and emerging pathogens
- support the development of vaccine therapies for the main public health threats , and emerging or re-emerging diseases.
- characterise the effects of radiation on specific cancers and cardiovascular disease.
- Identify the potential toxicity of air pollutants and chemicals.
- inform policies, interventions and messaging campaigns to better protect human health
- improve management of casualties in acute radiation, chemical and other environmental incidents
Further details of animal studies conducted by UKHSA establishments can be viewed here.
UKHSA research. Alongside epidemiological and cell studies, animal research plays an essential role in understanding how infectious, radiological, chemical and other environmental agents impact human health. This provides key scientific evidence that informs interventions, policies and incident responses to protect the population from existing and emerging health threats.
Annual UKHSA animal usage over the last 4 years by site. Values represent the annual average percentages of the average annual total of 3400 animals from 2021 to 2024.
UKHSA Locations and Animal Research
The animal research conducted at the 3 UKHSA sites Fig.2 provides an essential capability for health security as well as opportunities for scientific advancement aligned to UKHSA’s mission of interest to R&D funders internationally. UKHSA has substantial experience in assisting in the development of countermeasures to protect the population from health threats.
In addition, some animals used in UKHSA are supporting important regulatory vaccine and therapeutic products.
Read more: UKHSA Research Animal Research
UKHSA Animal Usage Statistics
Across the 3 sites Fig.2 using animals in their research, an average of 3400 animals are typically used per year. This is less than 6% of the usage of the top 10 UK organisations that performed the most animal research, which reported the use of over 60,580 (10th) to 223,787 (1st) animals in 2023. Click for more information on how UKHSA compares to other UK organisations and how the UK compares to other European nations.
The vast proportion of these animals suffer no, mild or moderate harm. UKHSA Porton uses the most animals (70%), followed by UKHSA Chilton (27%) and UKHSA Colindale (3%). The majority of the animals used each year are mice (47%), followed by guinea pigs (31.5 %), hamsters (14%), ferrets (3%), and non-human primates, rabbits, rats and turkeys (4.5% total) (Figure 2A). The vast proportion of these animals suffer no, mild or moderate harm. UKHSA Porton uses the most animals (70%), followed by UKHSA Chilton (27%) and UKHSA Colindale (3%) (Fig 3). Click for more information on UKHSA animal use for 2023 and previous years.
How Animal Research is Regulated in the UK
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has three Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies (AWERBs) located at Porton Down, Colindale and Manchester. The AWERBs are responsible for the ethical review of all animal research conducted by UKHSA, ensuring that it is performed to high standards and in compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA).
The UKHSA has overall responsibility for the implementation of ASPA and the operation of the AWERB. The 3 AWERBs function locally but work collaboratively to share best practice, reporting quarterly into the UKHSA Science Governance Committee. More information can be found on UKHSA AWERB terms of reference.
Use of animals for research in the UK is governed by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. This stipulates that animal research can only be performed under a specified Project Licence (PPL), within an organisation with a Place Establishment Licence (PEL), and by individuals holding a Personal Licence (PIL). ASPA is implemented and regulated by the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) with the Home Office. More information on ASPA and its operation can be found here.
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