Our best bits: 2021 in review

Published on August 8, 2022

A year of change towards kinder science – thanks to your support

2021 was a tough year for many, but there was also lots to feel hopeful about as highlighted in our inspiring new Year In Review report.

Thanks to our brilliant supporters, scientists and partners, Animal Free Research UK made both great and incremental change towards a kinder science for people and animals. Here are some of my best bits…

Scientists at our Animal Replacement Centre of Excellence (ARC) 2.0 at the University of Exeter were able to make a major discovery in our understanding of diabetes, using human cells. The work at ARC 2.0 has been ground-breaking in finding the gene responsible for changing insulin-producing beta cells in response to ageing – which could lead to new diabetes treatments.

We continued supporting the career pathway of exceptional next generation scientists, including Dr Paul Holloway, who developed a new methodology that can mimic human stroke by using various types of human cells grown in 3D on small ‘chips’.

The evidence-based results from the research projects we have continued to fund have, in turn, helped us to engage with decision makers, calling on them to change policy around the use of animals in laboratories. Thanks to overwhelming public support and in collaboration with Cruelty Free International and OneKind, we delivered our #TargetZero petition to the Government signed by over 100,000 people, which led to a parliamentary debate on phasing out animal research.

We have come out of the pandemic with more people than ever supporting our important work, in part thanks to our Furry Five animation campaign which enabled us to speak to a wider audience of supporters. Through animation, we are telling the stories of the animals who suffer in medical research. This unique series is inspiring empathy and a desire to act and, like you, support us. Please do share it widely and help us reach even more people with our important message.

With political change and the cost-of-living crisis, reaching more people has never been more important. This is a difficult time for everyone, not least for small charities like ours, so please spread the word on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And if it’s something you can do, please consider making a donation so that we can keep doing this important work on your behalf and for animals.

Together we can build on the breakthroughs we made last year. And with your support, come ever closer to a world where human diseases are cured faster without animal suffering.

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