University of Aberdeen to establish Scotland-first Animal Replacement Centre in move towards animal-free research

Professor Valerie Speirs, Chair in Molecular Oncology at the University of Aberdeen is going to use a grant of £25,000 from the Centre for Human Specific Research to establish the UK’s third and Scotland’s first Animal Replacement Centre (ARC), continuing her commitment to animal-free testing in cancer research.

Pictured: Dr Ross Dobie, Head of Science at the Centre for Human Specific Research, Professor Valerie Spiers, and Carla Owen, CEO at Animal Free Research UK. Photo: University of Aberdeen

ARCs are laboratories funded by the Centre for Human Specific Research, an initiative of Animal Free Research UK, with the aim of replacing animals in medical research with human-specific methods. 

Professor Speirs and her team have been pioneers in human-specific and animal-free approaches to cancer research, and the ARC will allow them to continue their vital, cruelty-free work. A key goal of Aberdeen’s ARC will be to support the next generation of research leaders, ensuring that animal-free and human-specific methods are central to future research efforts. Additionally, it will develop advanced human breast tissue models and use interdisciplinary approaches to design experiments that replace the use of animals.

Alongside the grant, Professor Speirs has been honoured with a plaque in the University’s Institute of Medical Sciences building, to honour her innovative and vital work.

Professor Speirs said: “I realised early on that when researching a human condition there was no better model than using human tissues and cells. This has remained with me throughout my career and I have been fortunate to implement this by collaborating with pathologists who have been able to provide human tissues which I have used in my work.”

“The Centre for Human Specific Research ARC grant will allow my team to continue building our work towards using animal-free approaches in cancer, as well as supporting early to mid-career researchers with innovative ideas for animal-free approaches but maybe don’t know where to start. Currently our work is focused on identifying and implementing robust animal-free replacements in cell culture, which is one of the bread-and-butter experimental approaches that many scientists use.”

Animal Concern congratulates Professor Valerie Speirs and the University of Aberdeen for taking this vital and pioneering step away from animal testing. As a result of Professor Speirs’ tireless efforts to replace animals in research, many will be saved from the inhumane, cruel, and traumatic effects of the licensed cruelty that is animal testing.

Read more about the University of Aberdeen’s ARC here.