There is an urgent need for ongoing research if we are to stop motor neurone disease killing six people every day. We believe the use of animals in research is essential to understanding, preventing and ultimately finding a cure for MND. We only fund and support research involving animals when no alternatives are available, and where institutions can clearly demonstrate they comply with the rigorous laws that safeguard the welfare of animals used in research in the UK and across the EU. As with all research we fund, there must be a clear potential benefit to people with MND. 

The MND Association's position statement on animal research

The Association of Medical Research Charities

The MND Association is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and endorses the AMRC's position statement on the use of animals in medical research. All AMRC member charities support this principle.

The Concordat on Openness in Animal Research

We are also a signatory to the Concordat on Openness in Animal Research which sets out how organisations report the use of animals in scientific, medical and veterinary research in the UK. Signatories to the Concordat have agreed to be more open about their use of animals in research, and to abide by the following four commitments:

  • we will be clear about when, how and why we use animals in research;
  • we will enhance our communications with the media and the public about our research using animals;
  • we will be proactive in providing opportunities for the public to find out about research using animals;
  • we will report to the Concordat on progress annually and share our experiences.

All of the UK based research institutions that we fund are also signatories to the Concordat. Together we ensure that these commitments are met and that we are transparent in the use of animals in research.

The use of animals in medical research remains essential. Animal research is an integral part of understanding how basic systems of the body work and what goes wrong with them to cause disease. We only support those institutions that abide by the strict ethical and legal framework for the use of animals in research, and know this work will continue to make advances in the understanding and treatment of MND and one day help to find a cure for the disease.