Each year, more than 100 million animals—more than three each second—are bred, injected, infected, cut open, genetically altered, and more, in the name of science.
Biomedical research aims to discover the causes of human illnesses and to prevent or treat them, but the benefits of today’s health research are becoming harder to see. A stunning 9 out of every 10 candidate new medicines that appear safe and effective in "animal models" fail in human trials due to unforeseen toxicity or lack of effectiveness. Research that never delivers because of irrelevant or misleading animal models delays medical progress and risks the safety of volunteers in clinical trials.
HSI’s Science Team is exposing failed animal models and pressing for funding to be shifted to more promising—and ethical—avenues of research.
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Animal Models
How many millions in precious health research funds are wasted each year on animal research that provides no actual medical benefit?
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Stronger Legal Protections
HSI played a key role in securing life-saving measures under Europe's new animal experiments law. Now we're working to extend these precedents globally.
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Advancing Humane Science
Imagine a world where lab rats are replaced by lab robots, with high-tech computer models instead of faulty animal models. It’s not science fiction—it’s the future of biomedical research.
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Support Our Work
HSI's high-impact campaigns are achieving major reductions in animal testing around the world, but millions more animals need our help, and we need your help to save them.
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News
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November 22, 2013
Horizon 2020 Adopted
The European Union’s €70.2 billion scientific research and innovation funding and policy framework, Horizon 2020, was adopted by the European Parliament in plenary session.
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March 4, 2013
HSI/Europe Open Letter to the Irish Presidency of the EU Regarding Horizon 2020
Horizon 2020 offers the EU a unique opportunity to lead the world in truly groundbreaking health research—an area of science that has struggled to make progress on important diseases such as cancer, asthma and degenerative neurological disorders. These difficulties are attributable in large part to the limitations of research that uses mice and other animals as “models” for human biology.
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November 16, 2012
Lush Cosmetics Awards Humane Society International Prize for ‘Outstanding’ Work to End Cruel and Outdated Animal Testing for Pesticides
HSI received £40,000 for being selected to win in the lobbying category for leadership of a successful two-year campaign that dramatically reduced animal-testing requirements under Europe’s new regulations for non-food pesticides.
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October 12, 2012
EU Parliament Workshop: Advancing Safety Science and Health Research
Stakeholders call on the European Union to support substantial, dedicated funding for this critically important area through its Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for research and innovation.
