Understanding animal testing
Knowledge shapes the future: At LMU and the University Hospital, we conduct research for humans, animals, and the environment. Animal experiments are only carried out when there are no alternatives – we avoid them wherever possible and consistently minimize the burden on animals.
The aim of research at LMU and the University Hospital is to understand biological processes and disease mechanisms and to translate these insights into new approaches for diagnostics, prevention, and therapy. These include vaccines, medications, and alternative treatment methods in areas such as cancer and cardiovascular medicine, neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases, infectious diseases, and organ replacement.
To this end, LMU and the University Hospital already make extensive use of animal-free methods in basic research, in clinically oriented human and veterinary research, as well as in the training of students and medical doctors.
The methods used include cell cultures, organoids, and computational models, as well as—particularly in teaching—mannequins and simulation systems. In addition, when scientifically necessary, patient-derived materials (e.g. blood or tissue samples) and clinical data are also used. This is done exclusively on the basis of informed consent and in pseudonymized form.
Animal experiments are only conducted when no suitable alternatives are available and when the scientific question requires the natural interaction of multiple different cell types and organ systems.
This is the case, for example, with infectious and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, or when developing new therapies to treat cancer or Alzheimer’s disease that specifically harness the body’s own immune system.
We thank all patients and animal owners for supporting our research by making data and materials available.
Animal testing: where it (still) cannot be avoided
Education and training
Veterinary training includes handling animals, alongside physicians who first practice particularly high-risk procedures on animals before performing them on humans.
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Basic research
Basic research is the starting point for scientific discovery: animal models help unravel molecular disease changes and biological processes, with the boundary between discovery and application often fluid.
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Translational research
This type of research bridges basic science and clinical applications, turning findings into new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for humans and animals – from the laboratory to the clinic.
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Service resources on animal testing
- Information initiative “Understanding Animal Testing” (in German)
- YouTube channel on "Understanding Animal Testing" (in German)
- The German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R)
- "Pro-Test" platfom - Exchange of experiences, opinions, and questions on the topic of “animal testing” (in German)
LMU is a member of the Initiative for Transparent Animal Research.
