NWO joins Transition to Non-Animal Innovation

A future with more humane research models and fewer laboratory animals seems to be an increasingly attainable goal on the horizon. For decades, the scientific world has been working hard to make research without animals possible. Yet laboratory animals (still) cannot always be replaced and sometimes remain necessary to answer a research question properly. While NWO acknowledges this, it also wants to strongly stimulate the transition to non-animal research. To collaborate on this and promote it, NWO has become a partner in the Transition to Non-Animal Innovation programme.

The Netherlands aims to be a global leader in the transition to non-animal research. This means science must fully engage in developing alternatives. “But this involves much more than just developing alternative research models and measurement methods,” emphasizes Marcel Levi, Chair of NWO: “We also need to examine the research culture and spark a debate within science about what we accept as a suitable model that ensures the quality and validation of our research results.”

Working together

To jointly advance this with other parties, NWO recently became a partner in the Transition to Non-Animal Innovation programme of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. This step aligns with NWO’s ambition, as a science funder, to accelerate the transition to non-animal research wherever possible. NWO promotes and renews world-class scientific research with scientific and societal impact. This fits perfectly with the mission and ambitions of the Transition to Non-Animal Innovation programme. For years, NWO has already contributed to the transition to more alternative models through several research programmes focused on replacing animal testing and on the acceptance and implementation of non-animal models.

Promoting research with scientific and societal impact

Both within science and society, the use of laboratory animals is increasingly under scrutiny. As NWO pursues scientific and societal impact, it sees reducing animal testing through a non-animal policy as an important task, while recognizing that research with animals will remain necessary to some extent and in certain scientific fields. This means that maintaining high quality and reliability in scientific research—and finding ways to reduce animal use—must go hand in hand, in collaboration with the research field. This includes raising awareness among researchers and assessors about New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), as well as improving standardization, preregistration, transparency, and accessibility of data from animal research to prevent unnecessary repetition.

Maintaining high quality and reliability in scientific research and finding ways to reduce animal use must go hand in hand.

The dilemma of animal use in science: what more can we do?

Figures from the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority show that many laboratory animals are still used in the Netherlands: around 400,000, a substantial portion of which is for scientific research. Despite promising alternatives, it is simply not always possible to conduct research of comparable quality without animals. The COVID-19 vaccine is a case in point. And even for non-animal models that already exist, widespread adoption remains limited. The path from development to broad acceptance is a long one. Yet we can do more. For example, by asking researchers before their project begins to carefully consider whether animal testing is truly necessary or if alternatives exist, much can be gained. The same applies to emphasizing the ARRIVE guidelines for publishing animal research, increasing preregistration, and sharing research data. This reduces the chance of unnecessary repetition of experiments, ultimately resulting in much less animal suffering.

More about Transition to Non-Animal Innovation

Transition to Non-Animal Innovation is a programme that promotes the transition to non-animal research. Through this programme, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality takes a leading role in this transition. Partners come from government, civil society, business, and science, each bringing different perspectives and knowledge. In this way, they inspire and complement each other. Representing NWO in the national working group are Marjolijn Robijn and Menno Grouls.

No animal testing, unless …

Of course, the Animal Testing Act is the guiding principle for NWO. Animal testing may not be conducted if an alternative exists, and never without a permit. If no alternative is available, it must be done as transparently as possible. This is assessed by various committees, such as the Central Authority for Scientific Procedures on Animals and an animal ethics committee. These bodies evaluate whether the distress experienced by the animal is justified by the necessity and benefits of the research. NWO always asks researchers for a permit if animal testing is part of the research application.

• Research in the service of animals

Researchers use laboratory animals not only for human health but also to improve animal welfare itself. Research by Leiden scientists using sticklebacks and grass parakeets shows that careful use of laboratory animals can actually contribute to animal welfare, both in the lab and in nature.

• "As long as we want people to recover, careful use of laboratory animals is necessary"

We want to eliminate animal testing, but in many cases, we still cannot do without it. For example, in our search for treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and immune disorders. Research that forms the basis for new treatments that save lives.

• Making medical research without animal testing faster possible

A new generation of organ-on-a-chip models is being developed, featuring highly complex structures that perfectly mimic human tissues. This could make animal testing obsolete and enable more medical research. Efforts are underway to make practical application a reality.

• The transition to non-animal research is more than just alternative methods

Because accelerating this transition involves more than just developing alternative research models. “We also need to examine the research culture and spark a debate in society about what we accept as a suitable model.”

Source: NWO