Funding Needed to Restart Canada's Canadian Center for Alternatives to Animals Methods (CCAAM)

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The closure of the Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods (CCAAM) in May 2024 was a significant setback for Canada's scientific progress. As we look to the future of biomedical research, it is clear that Canada must reconsider its reliance on animal models, particularly given the growing international consensus that these methods are often ineffective predictors of human biology.

The reality of animal-based research is stark: approximately 95% of drugs that successfully pass animal tests fail in human clinical trials due to fundamental physiological differences between species. This failure rate is not only a drain on scientific resources and a source of unnecessary animal suffering, but it also delays the delivery of potentially life-saving treatments to human patients. We would do well to broaden the plan of ending toxicity testing on animals to also ending the requirement in Canada that new drugs be tested on animals. These two goals are in line with each other.

Canada is now out of step with global trends. In the United States, the federal requirement for animal testing on new drugs has been removed, a shift driven by the recognition that human-relevant alternatives—such as 'organ-on-a-chip' technology and 3D-bioprinted human tissue models—provide more accurate and reliable data. It is time for Canada to follow suit by modernizing its regulatory requirements to move away from mandatory animal testing and, crucially, by providing the funding necessary to support innovation in non-animal methods.

CCAAM stands ready to lead this transition. With a potential new home in Ottawa, the Centre is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between policy and practice. However, without sustainable federal funding, this opportunity will remain out of reach.

I urge the government to align Canada’s drug approval standards with modern scientific realities and to provide the financial support needed to reopen the CCAAM. By investing in these humane, human-centric approaches, Canada can foster a more innovative, ethical, and effective scientific landscape that truly serves the needs of human health.

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