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Our policy on animal testing

We understand that using animals in medical research is a very sensitive subject, but we also recognise that there is a real and urgent need to find effective treatments and a cure for the extremely painful, life-limiting condition EB.

Currently, all new medicines in the UK, EU and USA are required by law to use animals during development and safety testing. The use of animals in medical research is strictly controlled. Legislation typically only allows animals to be used in medical research where the potential benefits of the work are likely to outweigh the effects on the animals concerned.

We’re a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC). We’re committed to reducing the use of animals in research and actively favour the use of non-animal experimental approaches in research wherever possible. We support AMRC’s statement on the use of animals in medical research and are committed to the ‘3R’ principles:

  • Replace where possible the use of animals with other lab techniques
  • Refine the use of animals to minimise their suffering
  • Reduce the number of animals used to the minimum

EB Research projects

DEBRA UK is the largest UK funder of EB research, awarding grants to researchers with expertise in the most relevant scientific and medical fields.
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A gloved hand holds a petri dish under a microscope in a laboratory setting.