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 represents more than just a loss of ethical leadership; it is a missed opportunity for the Canadian economy and the future of our national research sector. The 2035 goal of phasing out animal-based toxicity testing is in line with recognition that the shift toward human-centric research is not only a moral imperative but a sound economic strategy.

In contrast, human-centric approaches—such as organ-on-a-chip technology—provide a far more cost-effective pathway. As an example, a human brain-on-a-chip experiment typically costs between $1,100 and $1,500, offering a fraction of the cost of animal models. A monkey used in research can cost over $30K before a single experiment begins.

Human-centric alternative to animal models also simultaneously deliver superior predictive accuracy regarding human responses. These approaches are based on actual human physiology.

Drug research clearly illustrates the problem with basing research on animals instead of human physiology. Ninety-five percent of drugs that succeed in animal tests fail in human clinical trials. By shifting our resources toward advanced human-centric technologies, Canada can provide researchers with more reliable, reproducible, and human-relevant data.

Given that international competitors—including the United States—are already pivoting away from mandatory animal testing requirements in favor of these modern methods, it is essential that Canada modernizes its own approach.

I urge the federal government to provide the sustainable funding required to reopen CCAAM in Ottawa. Investing in this centre is a pragmatic step that will allow Canada to participate in a projected $30 billion global industry while ensuring that our research funding is used as efficiently and effectively as possible.