A landscape review of human relevant pre-clinical model development in the UK

We are delighted to publish a report today with the ABPI that examines the UK landscape in human relevant in vitro models. The report will help inform the wider policy, funding and infrastructure requirements to accelerate translation and deliver benefits for pharmaceutical R&D.

Guided by significant input from expert academic and industry stakeholders from across the UK*, key findings highlighted in the report include:

1. The requirement for more investment and training in the fundamental aspects of model development, to increase the translation of in vitro models developed in UK academic laboratories.
   For example, a lack of standardisation in cell quality, sourcing and phenotyping, along with variability in experimental protocols means that is can be very hard to compare or qualify data generated for its translational relevance to pharmaceutical R&D.
2. The development of a new Translational Readiness Framework for benchmarking in vitro models developed in academia for their fitness for use in industry R&D. 
   There are various technical requirements needed to evidence that a pre-clinical model can be used in pharmaceutical research. These requirements relate to the model’s performance and ability to replicate human biology, its reproducibility and robustness and its ability to be used at scale. These factors have been incorporated into a framework to support both academic and industry scientists in the development and use of in vitro pre-clinical models.
3. There is an opportunity to provide equitable access to support and infrastructure across the UK to advance the development and translation of in vitro pre-clinical models. 
   The UK has a strong academic research base. However, researchers are often siloed and have limited opportunities to collaborate with industry and access existing infrastructure and expertise. Better support and connection of researchers across the UK has the potential to improve the translation of models into industry and impact medicines development.

Pre-clinical in vitro models have the potential to transform medicine development and replace the use of animals. Working with the ABPI has allowed us to use our deep expertise in this area to work across the UK pre-clinical ecosystem to identify opportunities to ensure industry has access to well characterised models that are fit-for-purpose in pharmaceutical R&D.” 

Dr Cathy Vickers, Head of Innovation, NC3Rs

*The NC3Rs secured the ABPI tender to review the UK pre-clinical models landscape in May 2025 and as part of the project the NC3Rs conducted 30 expert stakeholder interviews.