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Review
. 2025 Feb 4;23(1):152.
doi: 10.1186/s12967-025-06084-3.

"Lost in translation?" Animal research in the era of precision medicine

Hamideh Frühwein  1 , Norbert W Paul  2
Affiliations
Review

"Lost in translation?" Animal research in the era of precision medicine

Hamideh Frühwein et al. J Transl Med. .

Abstract

Preclinical animal research has long been a cornerstone in evaluating the efficacy, toxicity, and safety of potential drug treatments before they proceed to human clinical trials. However, given the intricate nature of human physiology and the complexities of diseases such as cancer, this paper critically examines the role of animal experimentation in translational research, both from epistemological and ethical viewpoints. We argue that the ethical obligation to protect animals extends beyond their instrumental value for human benefit; it is rooted in the intrinsic value of their well-being. Consequently, we advocate for a paradigm shift in medical research: the adoption of new approach methodologies (NAMs) not merely as supplementary tools but as complete replacements for animal use in medical studies. In this context, replacement emerges as the key principle-an imperative that should be prioritized over all other considerations.

Keywords: 3R; Animal ethics; Evidence-based medicine; Murine models; Precision medicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval: Not applicable. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Conflict of interest: Both authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript. What the article reports: The article critiques the dominant use of animal testing in scientific research, arguing that the historical justification, rooted in figures like Rudolf Virchow’s 19th-century principles, is now outdated due to advancements in non-animal methodologies such as organoids, 3D cultures, and computational models. These technologies offer scientifically robust and ethically viable alternatives, challenging the adequacy of the 3Rs (Reduction, Refinement, Replacement) framework. Citing ethical theories from Nussbaum and Korsgaard, the article argues for a paradigm shift that values animals as beings with intrinsic worth, rather than instruments for human benefit, suggesting that the moral and scientific imperatives for replacement are stronger than ever.

References

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