Animal Free Research UK welcomes investment in human-specific science but calls for faster action to phase out animal testing

Today, the Government announced plans to provide £22 million in funding to support the development of human-specific research methods. The announcement includes £20 million for a new Pre-clinical Translational Models Hub, a commitment made in the Replacing Animals in Science Strategy published in November 2025, alongside up to £2 million for nine additional human-specific research projects, including technologies such as beating heart cells in a dish.

This announcement is a welcome recognition that the future of science must be animal-free. Human-specific techniques can provide results that are much more relevant to people. For example, Animal Free Research UK-funded researcher Professor Chris Denning at the University of Nottingham helped develop a human heart stem cell model that, combined with computer modelling, predicts drug safety with 93% accuracy, significantly outperforming animal tests. However, funding alone will not phase out animal testing. To deliver a genuine phase-out, the Government must introduce Herbie’s Law without delay. Herbie’s Law would provide a clear, science-led framework for phasing out the use of animals in medical research over the next decade, while taking immediate steps to end experiments on dogs, cats, horses and monkeys and supporting researchers to adopt human-specific methods.

While today’s announcement is a welcome step towards delivering the commitments set out in the Replacing Animals in Science Strategy, Animal Free Research UK urges the Government to take more decisive action to fulfil its manifesto commitment to work towards phasing out animal testing. The next step must be the introduction of Herbie’s Law, which would provide a practical pathway to achieve this. Polling has found that seven in ten people in Britain would support a new law of this kind.

Isobel Martin, Director of Public Affairs at Animal Free Research UK, said: “Today’s announcement on increased Government funding for human-specific technologies is a welcome step in the right direction. It reflects a growing recognition that the future of medical research must be, and will be, animal-free.

It is vital that the Government builds on today’s announcement by taking much more decisive action to fulfil its manifesto commitment to work towards phasing out animal testing. Herbie’s Law, which is backed by more than 190 MPs and Peers, would provide a practical route to achieve that ambition, setting a clear pathway to phase out the use of animals in medical research over the next decade while supporting scientists to adopt alternative methods.

We will continue to urge Ministers to build on this progress by introducing Herbie’s Law and accelerating the transition to human-specific technologies, delivering major benefits for both people and animals.”