Animal testing under pressure: Scientists demand necessary research!

Animal testing under pressure: Scientists demand necessary research!

International Laboratory Animal Day will be celebrated on April 24, 2025. On this day, 110 leading scientists from Germany commit to their animal experimental research. Among the signatories is the biopsychologist Prof. Dr. Onur Güntürkün from the Ruhr University Bochum. The campaign is led by Professor Dr. Frank Kirchhoff from Saarland University organized. Together they declare: “We test on animals!”

The signatories emphasize the need for animal testing for medical progress and the development of new therapies. Kirchhoff emphasizes that these experiments are indispensable for basic research. Animal testing has enabled significant advances in the history of medicine, for example in the development of antibiotics and vaccines. However, research is a controversial topic that raises ethical and moral questions.

Animal experiments in basic research

In their joint statement, the scientists make it clear that animal experiments are important for understanding complex processes in living organisms. Prof. Güntürkün explains that animal experiments helped him advance the understanding of thinking in the brain. It is also emphasized that animal experiments create an essential basis for clinical research.

The signatories come from a variety of German institutions, including universities, the Max Planck Society and the Leibniz and Helmholtz Associations. Many of them are active in leading positions in scientific societies, which illustrates the importance of this topic. It is also pointed out that animal experiments are carried out under strict ethical and legal requirements.

Ethics of animal testing

The discussion about animal testing is not new. It goes back to ancient times and has developed further over the centuries. Animal testing experienced a boom, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries, when it was used in a standardized way to test medical treatments. Despite their importance, they have come under criticism as opponents demand animal-free alternatives. Critics emphasize the animals' right to life and freedom.

In order to minimize animal suffering, the ethical principle of the “3Rs” has become established: Replace, Reduce and Refine. This principle serves as a guideline in biomedical research. Animal testing should be replaced by alternative methods wherever possible. Where this is not possible, the number of experimental animals is reduced to a necessary minimum, while at the same time ensuring species-appropriate housing conditions.

Animal experiments are approved by ethics committees that review ethical standards and ensure compliance with the 3R principles. These measures are intended to help ensure the welfare of animals and promote responsible conduct in research.

Sustainable research for the well-being of humans and animals

The scientists' campaign is accompanied by the information initiative "Understanding Animal Experiments", which carries out educational work on the topic. The goal is responsible research for the well-being of people and animals. Animal testing is still necessary for research into diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes and rare genetic diseases. A four-page paper with important discoveries made possible through animal testing and a list of signatories is included with the campaign.

Despite the heated debate over animal testing, the scientific community remains aware of its responsibility towards animals. The integration of cell culture and organoid models is considered necessary in future research programs to further reduce the need for animal testing and to combine it with alternative research methods. The status of the discussion and the challenges in the ethics of animal testing show that this remains a complex and controversial topic that must continue to be discussed intensively in the future.