UK Plan to Cut Animal Testing with AI and Bioprinting
12th Nov. 2025
In a bold step toward ethical and innovative science, the UK government has introduced a new plan to cut animal testing by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and 3D bioprinting technologies. Announced by Science Minister Patrick Vallance, the initiative aims to accelerate the shift toward safer, faster, and more humane research methods that protect both human health and animal welfare.
The government’s new strategy on animal testing reduction outlines a phased approach to replacing experiments currently needed to test the safety of vaccines, medicines, and pesticides. According to the plan, animal testing will only be phased out when advanced technologies can provide the same level of safety and precision for human health.
To support this shift, new funding and streamlined regulations will empower researchers to expand methods such as organ-on-a-chip systems. They are miniature devices that simulate human organ function using real human cells. Combined with AI-driven data analysis, scientists can assess how new drugs will behave in humans without using live animals.
“Nobody in our country of animal lovers wants to see suffering, and our plan will help end animal testing wherever possible while ensuring public safety,” said Lord Vallance. “This roadmap ensures government, businesses, and animal welfare groups can work together to deliver alternatives faster and more effectively.”
The roadmap also outlines a clear timeline for phasing out specific types of animal tests. By 2026, regulatory testing on animals for skin and eye irritation, as well as skin sensitisation, will come to an end. By 2027, scientists are expected to stop using mice for botox potency tests. By 2030, the use of dogs and non-human primates in pharmacokinetic studies, which track how drugs move through the body over time, will be significantly reduced.
Animal welfare groups have welcomed the move. Barney Reed, science and policy manager at the RSPCA, called it “a clear step toward eliminating animal use,” adding that the plan will encourage UK scientists to adopt “high-quality, ethical science in a rapidly changing world.”
If implemented effectively, experts say, the strategy could make the UK a global leader in cruelty-free research, demonstrating how AI, biotechnology, and compassion can coexist to shape the future of science.
Web Resources on UK’s plan on cutting animal testing
1. Gov.uk: Animal testing to be phased out faster as UK unveils roadmap for alternative methods
2. Theguardian.com: UK minister unveils plan to cut animal testing through greater use of AI
3. Mirror.co.uk: Government vows to phase out animal testing in move backed by campaigners