Animal researchers are starting to ask the public for help deciding which experiments to do and how to do them—but they lack the tools to do it well. Public involvement is routine in clinical trials, where patients help shape study design and ethics. In non-clinical animal research, it is almost non-existent. Researchers worry that non-experts will introduce uninformed views, and that conversations about animal work will be ethically fraught. The small number of people currently engaged cannot capture the full diversity of public opinion. This project aims to close that gap. Over three years, the team—including researchers, social scientists, public members, and organisations like Understanding Animal Research and the British Neuroscience Association—will create toolkits and training materials for both scientists and the public. They will first map the barriers and motivators that prevent or encourage involvement, then build resources that help researchers run meaningful public partnerships. If successful, the project could normalise public input into how animal research is prioritised, designed, and communicated. That would shift a system that currently operates largely behind closed doors toward one where the public has a genuine voice in weighing harms and benefits—without expecting every citizen to become a specialist.
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Background Methods for biomedical research been transformed over recent decades. It is now possible to study the body and brain at unprecedented levels of detail in animals in a way that would not be possible in humans. Research with living animals enables scientists to make precise changes to test the role of specific cells, molecules, or genes in supporting life and causing behaviours or diseases. While clinical research has well-established approaches for public involvement, it is rare to attempt public involvement in non-clinical research, especially when the research involves animals. Researchers are increasingly aware of the lack of public involvement in animal research, and there is a growing appetite for greater openness, transparency, and engagement in such research. Potential benefits of public involvement in animal research Involving the public as partners in animal research has potential to: help guide priority setting; inform research approaches; increase the public voice in consideration of harms and benefits; enhance dissemination of research findings; enrich researcher motivation and experience. Potential challenges of public involvement in animal research However, there are also challenges and risks in involving the public in animal research. Involving people who aren’t experts in the field risks introducing views that are not informed by specialised knowledge. This commonly deters animal researchers from considering public involvement. When public involvement does happen, a small number of individuals are usually engaged. These individuals can’t capture the full diversity of public opinion. Public partners might be keen to learn more about animal research and to be involved in shaping future research priorities, but might also find conversations about animal work ethically and emotionally challenging. What we will be doing We have assembled a team of collaborators and partners to address these challenges and opportunities, including researchers, social scientists, members of the public, public engagement and involvement specialists, and relevant professional organisations (Understanding Animal Research, British Neuroscience Association, eLife). We have developed a three-year work plan. This will focus on three areas: Foundational work to define the scope of our project, to understand barriers and motivators for public involvement (from the perspective of both researchers and publics), to inform development of future resources, and to ensure outputs consider diversity of opinion. Developing resources (for example, toolkits and training) for both researchers and the public on successfully involving the public with animal research. Sharing what we learned: we will work with our partners to ensure that the resources we create are easily available to everyone. We will also share, in written formats and at conferences, what we learned from doing this project itself. This will help other researchers to successfully collaborate with the public in their own projects.
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