science
Canada Lags in Funding Alternatives to Animal Testing Compared to Other Nations
Several countries including the United Kingdom, United States, and European Union have allocated funding and developed plans to phase out animal testing in research. Canada has a strategy for replacing animals in chemical and toxicity testing but lacks a plan for biomedical testing, which involves 40 to 60 percent of up to five million animals used annually in research.
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Technologies Organ-on-a-chip technologies, along with in-vitro methods and AI computational models, are being developed globally to support biomedical research. Alternatives involve selecting optimal technologies to address human biology questions.
Implications Animal testing has historically served as a standard for studying human diseases and ensuring safety of drugs, vaccines, and consumer products.
In Canada, the absence of a biomedical testing plan may affect participation in this market, while researchers seek regulatory validation for new methods. Stakeholders include researchers, funding agencies, and regulators.
Affected parties encompass the scientific community, animal welfare groups, and the pharmaceutical industry. Next steps involve demonstrating the efficacy of alternatives to regulators and securing government funding to sustain development.
