Liverpool's universities tested on more than 100,000 animals in the last five years including cows, donkeys, and zebrafish.
Figures obtained by The ECHO through a Freedom of Information request have revealed 109,836 animals have been used in experiments by the University of Liverpool, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). Liverpool Hope and Edge Hill Universities confirmed they have not experimented on any animals in the same time five-year period, between January 2017 and December 2021.
University of Liverpool was found to have experimented on 104,475 animals in total which came to 95% of the total animals tested on in Merseyside. The education provider also tested on the most variety of animals including cattle, domestic fowl, hamsters, mice, rabbits, rats, sheep, zebra fish, horses/donkeys/crossbreed, and "other fish".
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Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine tested on 4,981 gerbils, mice, and rats while LJMU experimented on a total of 380 rats and mice.
Dr Julia Baines Science Policy Manager at PETA has hit out at the universities for "tormenting" animals and are encouraging them to "embrace today’s research methods".
She told The ECHO: "It is shameful that Liverpool universities tormented, experimented on, and in many cases killed animals when forward-thinking scientists and institutions have switched to state-of-the-art, cutting-edge, non-animal methods, like human organs-on-a-chip and high-speed technology, that actually produce results – and quickly. These shocking figures – over 100,000 animals in 5 years – fail to disclose the number of painful and terrifying procedures to which each animal was subjected or the number of animals still left scared and suffering in their cages.
"It’s unethical to continue to experiment on rabbits, rats, hamsters, and other animals – who feel pain and fear as acutely as humans do – in experiments in which they may deliberately be inflicted with brain damage or infected with diseases. We must demand that Liverpool universities embrace today’s research methods.
"Students, researchers, and teachers would all benefit from such modernisation, and animals wouldn’t have to endure traumatic, potentially fatal, and pointless experiments that produce no tangible results despite enormous loss of life."
A University of Liverpool spokesperson said: “Research involving animals continues to make a vital contribution to the understanding, treatment and control of a range of major health problems. While new methods have enabled researchers to considerably reduce work involving animals, there is overwhelming scientific consensus that some work must continue for further fundamental advances to be made.
“The University is committed to the principles of reduction, refinement and replacement of animal models. For each of our research projects this ensures, as far as is reasonably practicable, that no non-animal alternative is possible, that the number of animals used is minimised and that procedures and standards of care are refined to maximise welfare.”
A spokesperson from LSTM said: "Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) carries out lifesaving research for diseases and conditions that benefit people globally, with a particular focus on those living in some of the world’s poorest populations. Most of our research does not involve the use of animals and embraces cutting edge in non-animal models that seek to minimise research involving animals.
"However, when research of this nature is carried out, it is done so under Home Office Regulations and only when there is no alternative available. To understand the basic biology of some of the world most prolific and deadly diseases and to develop treatments, vaccines and cures, research using animals is essential, and moving new treatments into clinical trial cannot be carried out legally without animal testing.
"Animal models have enabled researchers at LSTM to develop new treatments, vaccines and diagnostics for the most prevalent global killers (TB, malaria, multi-drug resistant bacteria) or those that have the capacity to cause permanently disfiguring disabilities (Neglected Tropical Diseases including worm infections and snakebite).
"LSTM works with and is supported by organisations likes the NC3Rs, and we actively seek strategies to refine, reduce, and ultimately replace animal models in our research programmes."
A spokesperson from LJMU said: “Liverpool John Moores University has long been committed to finding alternative methods to animal testing and has made substantial investments in this field, taking a leading role in research.
"Although we do conduct a limited amount of research related to medicine, it is subject to rigorous internal and external regulations. The University holds an Establishment License under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and fully complies with all statutory obligations and strict internal regulation and management. Our policy strictly prohibits any commercial testing.”
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