A Proposal to Modernize Experimentation in Colombia
A change driven by ethics and technology is transforming laboratories worldwide, and Colombia has the opportunity to join this scientific revolution.
In April 2025, while the FDA in the United States announced a historic plan to reduce animal testing in drug development, Colombia enacted the Angel Law, a milestone in animal protection that reflects a society increasingly aware of the welfare of sentient beings 6 . These two events, although geographically distant, converge on the same principle: it is possible and necessary to rethink our relationship with animals in science.
Although animal experimentation has been fundamental to medical advances, we now face a crucial question: how to harmonize the need for scientific research with the ethical imperative to reduce animal suffering? This article explores concrete proposals for Colombia to develop a modern statute on animal experimentation, aligned with global scientific advances and the values of a society that recognizes animals as sentient beings 6 .
Colombia strengthens its legal framework against animal abuse, establishing stricter penalties and explicit recognition of animal sentience 6 . However, this law focuses mainly on visible and everyday abuse, without specifically addressing the particular challenges of scientific experimentation.
In practice, animal experimentation in biomedical research remains a global reality. As Juan Martín Caballero, director of an animal facility in Barcelona, noted in a recent debate on the subject: "I don't imagine a future without animal experimentation for at least 50 years, despite the many advances being made toward replacement" 4 .
100%
Current animal use in many studies
25%
Potential reduction with virtual controls
10-100x
Higher cost of animal studies vs alternatives
The international landscape shows an accelerated transition toward alternative methods:
The FDA has launched a roadmap to gradually eliminate animal testing requirements in monoclonal antibody development, promoting instead computational models with AI and human organ-on-chip systems . The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have announced they will no longer fund projects based solely on animal models 5 .
The European Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) coordinates initiatives such as ONTOX and PANORAMIX to develop animal-free methods in toxicity assessment, endocrine disruptors, and effects of chemical mixtures 1 .
The ECVAM Summer School in Ispra and the Student Ambassador Project train new generations of scientists in animal-free methods 1 .
The so-called New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) offer scientifically robust and ethically superior options.
| Methodology | Description | Applications | Advantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organoids | Three-dimensional mini-organs derived from human cells | Disease modeling, toxicity testing | Human specificity, higher predictability |
| Organs-on-chip | Microfluidic devices that mimic organ functions | Absorption, metabolism and toxicity studies | Allows studying interactions between tissues |
| In silico models | Computational simulations and artificial intelligence | Toxicity prediction, mechanisms of action | Reduces research costs and time |
| 3D tissue printing | Hydrogels with living cells to create artificial skin | Cosmetic testing, skin absorption studies | Eliminates animal use in cosmetics |
| Advanced biomarkers | AI monitoring of facial expressions and behavior | Early detection of pain and stress in rodents | Refines existing conditions |
A concrete example of these new approaches is the VICT3R project, coordinated from Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, which seeks to reduce animal use in toxicological assessment by up to 25% through the creation of virtual control groups 7 .
Consortia of 19 pharmaceutical companies compile data from preclinical evaluations with real animals accumulated over years.
Machine learning algorithms identify patterns and key variables in historical data.
Generative AI methods create synthetic models that reproduce the characteristics of control animals.
Models are compared with real data to verify their predictive accuracy.
Results are shared with regulatory agencies to achieve regulatory acceptance.
The implementation of virtual control groups in the pharmaceutical industry could have a significant impact, considering that these animals represent approximately one quarter of all those used in safety studies of drugs and chemical products 7 .
Additionally, research costs would be drastically reduced, since animal studies are between 10 and 100 times more expensive than their in silico or in vitro equivalents 7 .
| Parameter | Current Situation | With VICT3R | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of animals used | 100% | Reduction of 25% | Less animal use |
| Research costs | High (10-100x higher) | Significant reduction | Greater efficiency |
| Study time | Long | Accelerated | Faster development |
| Regulatory acceptance | Based on animal data | Transition to virtual models | Paradigm shift |
Based on global trends and the local context, we propose the following pillars for a modern and effective Colombian statute:
The statute should establish concrete incentives for the adoption of NAMs, including specific funding lines in Colciencias, tax deductions for companies that implement these methodologies, and progressive justification requirements for animal use when validated alternatives exist.
Inspired by the model of the Honorary Commission for Animal Experimentation of Uruguay 9 , Colombia should integrate mandatory courses on alternative methods, ethics in animal experimentation, and application of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) into its biomedical training programs.
Every project involving animals should include in its approval requests a detailed justification of why alternative methods cannot be used, similar to what is proposed by the British Home Office 5 . Non-technical summaries should be accessible to the public.
Following the model of the European ECVAM 1 , Colombia could establish a reference center for the validation and promotion of animal-free methods, coordinated between the Ministry of Science, the National Institute of Health and universities.
Key Actions: Legal framework, training, pilot centers
Success Indicators: Updated curricula, funding lines
Key Actions: Mandatory use of alternatives where they exist, public reporting
Success Indicators: 25% reduction in animal use for controls
Key Actions: Expansion of validated methods, national center operational
Success Indicators: 50% reduction in total animal use
These are some concrete solutions that Colombian researchers could implement:
For toxicology and disease studies, using human cells that offer greater translational relevance.
Commercially available for liver, lung, heart and intestine, allowing study of specific human physiological responses.
AI software to simulate drug distribution and predict toxicity, as promoted by the FDA .
Continuous monitoring systems that analyze facial expressions (Grimace scale) and behavior to detect pain and stress, reducing manipulation 8 .
As the joint Austrian-Indian project to create artificial human skin based on hydrogels and living cells 3 .
Comprehensive repositories of historical animal testing data to train AI models and create virtual control groups.
"For patients, it means a more efficient pathway to develop new treatments. For animal welfare, it represents a big step toward ending the use of laboratory animals."
The global movement toward the reduction and eventual replacement of animal experimentation is unstoppable. Colombia has the unique opportunity to learn from these international experiences and develop a regulatory framework that anticipates rather than reacts to technological changes.
A modern statute on animal experimentation would not only be an ethical achievement, but a strategic opportunity to position Colombia as a leader in innovative and sustainable science in the region.
The future of science will be without animals, and Colombia can play a leading role in this historic transformation.