Wellcome grants involving animal research 2023 to 2024
We support the use of animals in the research we fund if researchers can show that it is legally, ethically and scientifically justified.
Grant analysis
The chart below shows the percentage of grants we’ve awarded over the past five years that have requested funding to use animals in their research.
20.7% of the grants we awarded in 2023-24 requested funding to use animals in their research.
The percentage fluctuates each year because the applications we receive and fund vary each year. This means it's difficult to identify underlying drivers or clear patterns in the figures.
Percentage of grants involving animals
Chart visible
Source: Wellcome
Bar chart showing the percentage of grants Wellcome has awarded over the past five years that have involved the use of animals.
Source: Wellcome
Bar chart showing the percentage of grants Wellcome has awarded over the past five years that have involved the use of animals.
Percentage of grants involving animals
Mice were the most-requested species for use in Wellcome-funded research, accounting for 62.1% in 2023-24.
Zebrafish made up the next largest proportion (26.5%).
Breakdown of animals by species 2023/24
Chart visible
Source: Wellcome
Bar chart showing the percentage of animals species by numbers requested in Wellcome-funded research.
Source: Wellcome
Bar chart showing the percentage of animals species by numbers requested in Wellcome-funded research.
Other species were less than or equal to 1.1% of the number requested.
These included:
- chickens
- dogs
- goats
- guinea pigs
- ferrets
- hamsters
- horses
- non-human primates
- molluscs
- pigs
- rabbits
- reptiles
- salamander
- sheep
About the data
This data is an estimation, based on the number of animals specified in grant applications.
More information
Contact us
Contact our Funding Information Team if you have a question about funding.
We fund research that uses animals if it is legal, ethical and scientifically justified. All researchers and organisations we fund must comply with the guidelines outlined on our use of animals in research policy.
