How many animals does Durham test on each year?

By William Milne

Durham University conducted the lowest animal testing out of any Russell Group university in 2023 (excluding Warwick, Nottingham and LSE, who do not provide data), conducting tests on 255 animals. This is down from 303 animals in 2022, although more than the 197 animals that were tested on in 2021. Prior to 2020, significantly more animals were tested on, with 581 in 2019, 1,738 in 2018 and 4,271 in 2017. There is no data for pre-2017.

The 2023 data includes 90 rabbits, 161 mice, and 4 rats. Of these animals, none were classed as experiencing ‘severe’ or ‘non-recovery’ pain. 55 animals experienced ‘moderate’ pain, 168 experienced ‘mild’ pain, and 32 experienced ‘sub-threshold’ (negligible) pain. This is according to the Home Office’s classification system.

In contrast, Cambridge University conducted the most animal tests on animals in 2023, with 223,787 procedures taking place

This is comparatively low compared to the average Russell Group University conducting tests on 65,772 animals, and a total of 1,381,218 animals being tested in 2023.

In contrast, Cambridge University conducted the most tests on animals in 2023, with 223,787 procedures taking place, closely followed by Oxford University with 194,913. After Durham University, and excluding LSE, Warwick and Nottingham, York conducted the second lowest number of tests, at 2,764, and Southampton the third lowest, at 11,323.

The low number of procedures is partly explained by Durham University not having a medical or veterinary department. In a request for comment, Durham University also emphasised that the low number of animal procedures was because “At Durham, all scientists make use of alternative models where scientifically possible to minimise the use of animals.”

“At Durham, all scientists make use of alternative models where scientifically possible to minimise the use of animals”

Durham University

Durham University also stressed that “all projects involving animals at Durham […] are scrutinised by an internal Animal Welfare Ethical Review Board (AWERB).
Board membership consists of scientists, people with animal care and veterinary expertise and lay members of the community who weigh up the potential benefits of animal research against the effects on the animals concerned. The Board is also committed to the principles known as the ‘three Rs’ and ensures they are applied in all cases, which are:

• Reduction: to use the minimum number of animals.
• Replacement: To use alternatives wherever possible, which may include computer modelling and cell or tissue culture.
• Refinement: To strive for the highest possible standard of animal care, use and welfare, to initiate improvements where possible and to minimise the suffering and stress caused to animals.”

Durham University said, “Some animals are used in procedures which aim to find out more about the interactions of different parts of the body, knowledge which can, in the long term, be applied in the development and discovery of new medical treatments for debilitating conditions such as stroke, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, heart attack, and eye disease.”
Durham University is, along with 69 other organisations, a signatory to the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research in the UK, committing itself to be open about the use of animals in scientific, medical and veterinary research in the UK.

Image: Otwarke Klatki via Wikimedia Commons