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<p>The Government considers that the carefully regulated use of animals in scientific
research remains a vital tool in improving the understanding of how biological systems
work and in the development of safe new medicines, treatments and technologies.</p><p>At
the same time, the Government believes that animals should only be used when there
is no practicable alternative and it actively supports and funds the development and
dissemination of techniques that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in
research (the 3Rs), in particular through funding for the National Centre for the
3Rs, and also through ongoing UK-led efforts to encourage greater global uptake of
the 3Rs.</p><p>Advances in biomedical science and technologies - including stem cell
research, in vitro systems that mimic the function of human organs, imaging and new
computer modelling techniques - are all providing new opportunities to reduce reliance
on the use of animals in research. As part of this, Innovate UK is awarding £4m this
year to fund collaborative projects with industry to support the development and application
of new non-animal technologies.</p><p>EU and UK law requires safety testing on animals
before human trials for new medicines can begin and animal research still plays an
important role in providing vital safety information for potential new medicines.</p><p>The
Early Day Motion (EDM 373) rightly draws attention to the UK life science sector’s
Concordat on openness in animal research which was launched last year, and provides
new opportunities for transparency and debate in this area. <a href="http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/news/communications-media/concordat-annual-report-2015/"
target="_blank">www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/news/communications-media/concordat-annual-report-2015/</a>.</p>
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