Lab animal report for 2024
The number of animals used in experiments by the Max Delbrück Center dropped to 31,517 in 2024 – 6,000 fewer animals than were used in 2023 and the lowest figure in a decade. Most of the animals were mice, rats, and fish. The statistics also include animals used by research groups from Charité – Universitätsmedizin, the Leibniz-Forschungsinstituts für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH), and the spin-offs T-knife and Berlin Cures, both based on the Berlin-Buch campus.
These numbers naturally fluctuate each year, depending on the start and end of projects and the establishment or closure of research groups. New teams at the Max Delbrück Center increasingly focus on data science and bioengineering. With tools like multi-omics, machine learning, and bioengineering, the center aims to pioneer precision prevention – looking beyond treating illness to predicting, preventing, and containing diseases before they cause harm.
This shift in research focus also changes how animals are used. For example, zebrafish embryos are now often studied within days of fertilization, minimizing stress on the animals and improving animal welfare. In accordance with European Union regulations, these early-stage experiments are not included in the statistics.
The Max Delbrück Center also actively implements the 3R principles – Reduce, Refine, Replace. Researchers and animal care staff receive training in lab animal science and the 3R methods. Teams collaborate closely to minimize the number of animals required for experiments and to share both experience and resources. The Preclinical Research Center on the Berlin-Buch campus provides top-tier conditions for conducting necessary animal studies as gently and effectively as possible.
The Max Delbrück Center is also currently involved in three projects at the Einstein Center 3R in Berlin. This alliance of biomedical institutions aims to improve the quality of unavoidable animal testing and to develop alternatives.
Why are animal experiments necessary?
Researchers at the Max Delbrück Center study what happens at the molecular level in the body – both in health and disease – to understand the fundamental mechanisms of life. But the human body is incredibly complex. Interactions between different cells, organs, and systems play a crucial role. However, no lab experiment or computer model can fully replicate a functioning immune system or accurately predict the effects of a potential therapy on an entire organism.
For many scientific questions, there is still no viable alternative to animal testing. Max Delbrück Center researchers continue to advocate for their necessity – partnering this year with 110 scientists during World Day for Laboratory Animals and with the Understanding Animal Research initiative at the start of the year.
Further information
- Facts and figures
- Understanding animal research campaign
- Animal research and ethics
- Helmholtz intensifies prevention research
- Wonders of the animal world
Contact
Jutta Kramm
Head, Communications
Max Delbrück Center
+49 (0) 30 9406 2140
jutta.kramm@mdc-berlin.de oder presse@mdc-berlin.de
- Max Delbrück Center
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The Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association aims to transform tomorrow’s medicine through our discoveries of today. At locations in Berlin-Buch, Berlin-Mitte, Heidelberg and Mannheim, our researchers harness interdisciplinary collaboration to decipher the complexities of disease at the systems level – from molecules and cells to organs and the entire organism. Through academic, clinical, and industry partnerships, as well as global networks, we strive to translate biological discoveries into applications that enable the early detection of deviations from health, personalize treatment, and ultimately prevent disease. First founded in 1992, the Max Delbrück Center today inspires and nurtures a diverse talent pool of 1,800 people from over 70 countries. We are 90 percent funded by the German federal government and 10 percent by the state of Berlin.
