Animal Models

Many of the medical breakthroughs we take for granted today – including vaccines, antibiotics, painkillers, asthma inhalers and cancer drugs – would not have been possible without research involving animals.

Institute of Genetics and Cancer scientists use a wide range of non-animal experimental technologies including computer simulations, medical imaging and growing cells and tissues in the laboratory. However, some studies can only be undertaken in a whole animal, for example, when developing potential new medicines for diseases such as cancer, or investigating how genetic mutations affect multiple organs and processes within the body.

All research involving animals is regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act. IGC Researchers are supported by dedicated facilities that ensure animal welfare and the principles of the three ‘Rs’ – Replacement, Reduction and Refinement - are applied in every area of our animal research.