In 2023, the number of approved animal experiments (based on non-technical project summaries) increased significantly. The pig is the representative of human diseases. In education, training and further education, pigs are used as accident and emergency victims to learn manual skills. This is despite the fact that there are now impressive animal-free replicas of the human body.

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In a study, the EU reference laboratory EURL ECVAM has also characterized numerous current animal-free models and methods that are used in biomedical research into cardiovascular diseases. For example, 3D tissue structures can already capture the more complex biomechanics of the heart or blood vessels - approaches that are at least well suited to reducing animal testing. Promising computer modeling and simulations based on human data are to be integrated into the approval process for medical products. This has a promising future, as drug-developing companies have a great interest in human-specific procedures.

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