Life in the lab (Image: Understanding Animal Research)

There is a consensus among scientists that certain types of research require the use of animals. The UK government has repeatedly said it agrees.

However, a small but vocal minority has been eroding British research by targeting an unexpected group – the transport sector – with the effect that the movement of lab animals into, out of and within the UK is now threatened.

Activists accuse airlines and ferry companies involved in this of acting immorally. While it is clear that carrying animals used in life-saving research is legitimate, these activists have created the illusion that these companies are going against their human passengers’ wishes by doing so, and many firms are refusing to continue the practice.


Ironically, research animals may suffer as a result. When a direct route is shut off, they have to be taken on increasingly circuitous journeys. One breeder flying animals from London to Edinburgh has said they now go via Frankfurt, because no airline with direct flights will carry research animals.

No other option

It is right that companies listen to their customers, but in this case, those protesting are a minority. A 2010 Ipsos MORI poll showed that 87 per cent of the public support well-regulated animal research for medical benefits, if there is no other option. UK science is meeting these conditions.

We constantly see medical benefits from such work. Either by uncovering basic physiology using animal systems or testing a new treatment before human trials, every medical advance will have involved animals at some point. We also have extremely high standards of animal care of which we should be proud.

Many are asking why this is an issue at all. Surely research facilities can breed their own animals? On the whole, they do, but in a small number of cases this is not an option and so animals must be imported or sent from the UK to scientists elsewhere.

Science is an international endeavour. In my own research, with genetically altered mice, we collaborate with teams on the other side of the world whose expertise complements our own, and must use animals with the same genetic make-up. Usually a few mice of a specific strain are shipped, in carefully controlled environments, and bred to establish a breeding colony at the receiving institute.

Making things worse

If we cannot transport animals, experiments will be repeated unnecessarily, and it will be difficult to compare results. This goes against the principles of reducing and refining the use of animals, which are important to reduce suffering. Activists are therefore making things worse, not better. They are also putting research into certain medical conditions at risk. If they succeed, some new treatments will not be developed. People will suffer needlessly.

Fortunately, action is being taken to stop this happening.

This week the UK’s science minister, David Willetts, said that his department has been working to get a deal with the whole transport industry so that the movement of research animals can continue. Government, the bioscience sector and transport companies must work together to achieve this.

As scientists, we also have a role to play. A question that has come up again and again in interviews on this is: “What exactly do you do to these animals?” This is what the public want to know. Scientists should not be afraid to speak out in support of their research and to explain why it is necessary. Perhaps if they do, they will be able to drown out the voices of the tiny minority who are now endangering us all.

Robin Lovell-Badge is a stem cell biologist and geneticist at the Medical Research Council’s National Institute for Medical Research in London, a member of the Council of Understanding Animal Research and president of the Institute of Animal Technology