April 24, 2026, is the World Day for Laboratory Animals. This commemorative day was established in 1979 by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV)​ and received recognition from the United Nations​ in 2009. Its aim is to raise societal awareness regarding the protection of laboratory animals, advocating for the implementation of humanitarian principles in scientific research. The week in which it falls is therefore designated as "Laboratory Animal Week."
 

Definition of Laboratory Animals
 

Laboratory animals typically refer to non-human animals used in biomedical research to explore the laws of life, test drug safety, and efficacy. This mainly includes mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, and monkeys, among others. Among these, mice, due to their rapid reproduction and genome highly similar to humans, are one of the most widely used laboratory animals.
 

As vital participants in life science research, laboratory animals play an irreplaceable role in areas such as new drug development, disease model construction, and toxicity assessment. They help us deeply understand disease mechanisms, develop new treatments, and have made significant contributions to the advancement of human medicine and public health.

The 3R Principles for Laboratory Animals

However, animal experimentation is always accompanied by ethical controversy. Laboratory animals in research often face welfare issues such as pain, fear, and behavioral restrictions. How to strike a balance between scientific research and animal protection has become an important global topic in research ethics.
 

Currently, the international community widely advocates for and adheres to the "3R Principles" - Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement - aiming to progressively reduce reliance on laboratory animals and improve the ethical standards of experimental procedures:
 

Replacement:​ Whenever possible, use non-animal experimental methods, such as computer simulations, in vitro cell models, organoid technology, etc.
 

Reduction:​ Under the premise of ensuring scientific validity, reasonably control the number of animals used by optimizing experimental design.
 

Refinement:​ Improve animal husbandry and experimental conditions to alleviate potential pain and distress they may endure during procedures.
 

Simultaneously, the "Five Freedoms" principle of animal welfare—freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury, or disease; freedom to express normal behavior; and freedom from fear and distress—should also serve as the basic framework for ensuring the welfare of laboratory animals. The 3R Principles and the Five Freedoms together constitute the ethical foundation for the use and protection of laboratory animals today.
 

With the advancement of technology and principles, we look forward to further reducing dependence on animal experimentation in the future, while pursuing scientific truth, and showing more respect and care for these lives that contribute silently.
 

On this special day, we extend our highest respect and deep remembrance to all laboratory animals that have given their lives for human health and scientific progress!