FOI2026/00786: MRC-Funded Research Involving Animals
Case reference FOI2026/00786
Received 30 August 2026
Published 6 November 2026
Request
Request Received: 30 August 2026
I am writing to request aggregate information concerning MRC-funded research involving animals regulated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA).
For each financial year from 2019/20 to 2025/26, please provide:
1. All regulated animal research
-
The number of MRC-funded research grants awarded involving animals regulated under ASPA.
-
The aggregate total value of those grants.
2. Research involving dogs
-
The number of those grants involving dogs.
-
The aggregate total value of those grants.
3. Animal costs
Where this information is held in an existing and reasonably extractable form, please provide:
-
the aggregate value of animal purchase/acquisition costs included within the grants in question; and
-
the aggregate value of animal maintenance/upkeep costs included within those grants.
If possible, please provide these figures separately for:
-
all ASPA-regulated animal research; and
-
research involving dogs.
For clarity, I recognise that the total value of a grant involving animals is not necessarily the amount spent on the animal component of that research. I am therefore requesting these figures separately rather than treating the total grant value as expenditure on animals.
I am seeking aggregate information only and do not require the names of individual researchers, institutions or projects.
If any of the requested information is not held in recorded or readily extractable form, please simply confirm that it is not held in that form; I am not asking UKRI to create new information.
Response
Response Sent: 28 September 2026
Full details of this response are available in the attached document.
Documents
This is UK Research and Innovation's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.