What are the benefits of using animals, and why do UVA researchers use them? UVA Researchers have made many important discoveries through their work that have helped save both human and animal lives. Other research with animals has allowed us to better understand their special ways they are adapted to their environments or how environmental changes can impact the wellbeing of individual animals, populations, and natural systems.
At UVA, we share your concern about testing animals. Our faculty and staff at UVA strongly support animal welfare. We make sure that animals in our care are treated ethically and humanely throughout their lives. This is essential to good science because when animals are not treated well, the integrity of the research around them isn’t useful and cannot be replicated.
Why do researchers use animals?
- Animals are biologically similar to us, and mice share 98% of our DNA.
- Animals get many of the same diseases and ailments that humans do. Since they are also susceptible to cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses, they are ideal for testing medicine and new lifesaving treatments.
- Animals’ lives are shorter than ours, so researchers can not only study them throughout their life span, but also across generations to better understand the impact of new treatments.
- Animal research is required by law. Before researchers can try exciting new life-saving treatments on humans, federal law requires that they first test them on animals to make sure they are both safe and effective.
- Animal research helps us better understand the natural world and how we impact it.
Animal research helps both humans and animals
Almost everyone alive today has benefited from a medical discovery made through animal research. Many illnesses like polio, smallpox, cholera and diphtheria are no longer a threat to public health in the United States. Advanced diagnostic tests can now catch the early stages of cancer and heart disease. Surgeons have been able to invent new techniques like knee replacements and organ transplants. And pharmaceuticals help millions of people live happier, healthier lives.
Biomedical research helps animals too. Pets, livestock, zoo animals and animals in the wild live longer and healthier lives when vets can treat the diseases that used to kill millions of animals every year. Vaccines and surgical techniques help our animal companions, but also have helped preserve endangered species.