Number of animals used: 2014 to 2016
Updated 12 July 2021
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-health-england-phe-research-involving-animals/number-of-animals-used-2014-2016
The following tables provide the numbers of animals used, per species, at our scientific campuses at Porton, Colindale and Chilton, from 2014 to 2016.
Read more about how and why we use animals in research.
PHE Porton (includes Porton Biopharma Limited)
| Year | Mice | Hamsters | Ferrets | Guinea pigs | Rabbits | Non-human primates (NHP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2435 | 162 | 269 | 3132 | 92 | 63 |
| 2015 | 3896 | 136 | 400 | 2838 | 192 | 72 |
| 2014 | 4347 | 257 | 213 | 4064 | 51 | 133 |
The research includes studies that help us understand the body’s response to disease. For example, ferrets are used as models to study diseases caused by influenza viruses as their respiratory system has many similarities to that of humans.
Hamsters are the model of choice for Clostridium difficile (C.diff) infection and work has led to the clinical application of new treatments against this highly infectious disease that affects many hospital patients. Non-human primates are used only when other species are considered not to be suitable and are typically used where a therapy or vaccine is near to use in the clinic due to their close similarity to human immunology and physiology. In the majority of cases, the procedures conducted are of minimal impact on animal welfare and involve vaccination in the same way that humans are immunised.
PBL’s work is focussed on quality-assured development of biopharmaceuticals including Erwinase, a childhood leukaemia therapy, and the UK’s anthrax vaccine and their work mainly involves the use of guinea pigs and mice.
PHE Colindale
| Year | Mice | Ferrets | Turkeys | Guinea pigs | Rabbits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 32 | 4 | 16 | 53 | 3 |
| 2015 | 96 | 7 | 16 | 52 | 13 |
| 2014 | 36 | 9 | 16 | 53 | 18 |
The use of rabbits for enteric antisera work has been discontinued and replaced with whole genome sequencing technology.
PHE Chilton (Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards)
| Year | Mice | Rats |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2338 | 10 |
| 2015 | 2206 | 58 |
| 2014 | 1203 | 74 |
The research includes the study of radiation-induced acute myeloid leukaemia and intestinal cancer, and responses to toxic stress caused by chemicals or nanoparticles, and the neurobiological effects of electromagnetic fields.