Science minister unveils plan to replace animal testing with AI

Animal testing in science would be phased out faster under a plan to increase the use of artificial intelligence and 3D bioprinted human tissues, a minister has said.

- Jamie Grierson

The plan unveiled by the science minister, Patrick Vallance, backs replacing certain animal tests that are still used where necessary to determine the safety of products such as lifesaving vaccines and the impact pesticides have on living beings and the environment.

The strategy says phasing out the use of animals in science can happen only when reliable and effective alternative methods with the same level of safety for human exposure can replace them.

The government said new funding for researchers and streamlined regulation would help develop methods such as organ-on-a-chip systems - tiny devices that mimic how human organs work using real human cells.