FAQs and Further Information

We are committed to openness about the use of animals in research and believe we have a duty to explain to the public why and how animals are used.

The MRC was one of the original signatories of the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research, which was launched in 2014.

Signatories commit to:

  1. Be clear about when, how and why we use animals in research.
  2. Enhance our communications with the media and the public about our research using animals.
  3. Be proactive in providing opportunities for the public to find out about research using animals.
  4. Report on progress annually and share our experiences.
  • Why do you do research using mice?

    In order to offer diagnoses and therapies for a disease, we need to understand its causes. The mouse is key for our investigation of diseases at MRC Harwell. It’s physiologically similar to humans and it can develop many of the same diseases, meaning that it can be of great use for the detailed study of the molecules, cells, tissues, and organs involved in human diseases, as well as development of new treatments. Animal research is only undertaken where there are no alternatives, such as cell, tissue, organoid, or computational modelling.

  • What type of animal research do you carry out?

    We generate or use genetically altered mouse models of human disease that enable us or other researchers to better understand those diseases and to develop new treatments.

  • How do I find out more about what happens at the Mary Lyon Centre?

    You can find out more about our work and the services we offer here on our website. We also share updates and news stories on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and in our quarterly newsletter.

For more information about animal research, we encourage you to visit the following websites: