Emerging Technologies Poised to End Animal Testing in Scientific Research
Recent advances in biotechnology and artificial intelligence are paving the way to drastically reduce—and potentially eliminate—the need for animal testing in research and drug development. This shift is gaining momentum as governments worldwide announce ambitious plans to phase out animal experimentation in favor of innovative, human-relevant technologies.
A New Regulatory Landscape
Earlier this week, the UK’s science minister unveiled a bold strategy aiming to phase out animal testing entirely over the coming decade. The plan includes specific milestones: a halt to animal testing for skin irritants by the end of 2026, an expectation to cease Botox strength tests on mice by 2027, and significant reductions in drug trials involving dogs and nonhuman primates by 2030. This initiative echoes developments in other regions. In April, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration laid out a plan to replace animal testing for monoclonal antibody therapies with more predictive, human-relevant models. Similarly, following a 2024 workshop, the European Commission began crafting a roadmap to phase out animal testing specifically for chemical safety evaluations.
The Historical Context and Current Challenges
Animal models have been integral to science for thousands of years, contributing to vital discoveries about physiology and disease. Regulatory frameworks in countries like the UK and the US strictly govern animal research, requiring multiple licenses and adherence to stringent animal welfare standards. Despite these protections, millions of animals are still used annually in experiments.
Moreover, many scientists express ethical concerns regarding animal use. The high failure rate—approximately 95%—of treatments that appear promising in animals but never reach the market fuels skepticism about the predictive value of animal models. This has underscored the urgent need for better alternatives.
Cutting-Edge Alternatives to Animal Testing
Technological leaps in the past few decades have brought forward innovative tools that mimic human biology more accurately than traditional animal models:
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Organs-on-Chips: Miniaturized human organ systems engineered within microfluidic devices replicate key physiological functions. Researchers have developed liver, intestine, heart, kidney, and brain chips that sustain living cells with nutrient supply and can simulate complex organ activities. Notably, heart chips have even been launched into space to study the effects of microgravity, while lung chips have been utilized by the FDA to evaluate COVID-19 vaccines.
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Lab-Grown Organoids: By cultivating clusters of human cells into three-dimensional structures, scientists can recreate miniature versions of organs or embryos. These organoids enable detailed studies of development and function, alongside personalized drug testing using cells derived from individual patients. Some teams have successfully generated fetal organoids, opening new avenues for developmental biology research.
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Digital Twins and Artificial Intelligence: Artificial intelligence is increasingly deployed to analyze vast biomedical datasets, uncovering gene-protein-disease relationships and assisting drug design. Going further, digital twins—computer-generated replicas of human organs—are being trialed to guide surgeons in procedures such as atrial fibrillation treatment. These virtual models offer potential for testing therapies on “digital humans,” significantly reducing reliance on physical animal and human trials.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Research Without Animals
While completely ending animal testing by 2030 may be optimistic—given ongoing regulatory requirements by bodies like the FDA, European Medicines Agency, and WHO—progress in alternative technologies is undeniable. Researchers acknowledge that no current model fully replicates the complexity of living organisms, but rapid advancements bring hope.
The continued development and adoption of organs-on-chips, organoids, AI, and digital twin technologies represent a transformative shift in biomedical research. These tools promise not only to improve the ethical landscape by reducing animal suffering but also to enhance the accuracy and relevance of scientific discoveries for human health.
This article originally appeared in The Checkup, MIT Technology Review’s weekly biotech newsletter. To receive future updates and access similar in-depth stories, sign up to the newsletter.
By Jessica Hamzelou, MIT Technology Review
