Animal experiments in Switzerland are strictly regulated by law, must be scientifically justified, and are nonetheless regularly the subject of controversial debate. Researchers Tosca Dalessi and Simona Doneva developed a video series at the University of Zurich that addresses the topic and gives researchers a direct voice.
Anyone working in Switzerland in the life sciences, pharmaceutical research, or medical advancement will sooner or later engage with the topic of animal experimentation. It is a field that is strictly regulated – and yet it regularly sparks controversy at the social and political level. Public discourse tends toward polarised positions, while direct voices from research are frequently drowned out.
Tosca Dalessi, PhD in Cancer Biology, and Simona Doneva, PhD in Biostatistics, developed a five-part video series at the University of Zurich. In the series «Research Involving Animals in Switzerland», twelve researchers from the Universities of Zurich, Basel and Fribourg, as well as the University Hospital Zurich, answer questions from the public.
Their goal: to connect the questions of young people with the experiences of researchers who work with animals themselves. «We wanted to paint a more nuanced and authentic picture of why researchers conduct such studies», the two explain. Around 400 people participated in a survey, from which they defined five key topic areas.
The videos explain, among other things, how and why animal experiments are conducted, what regulations govern the treatment of animals, and where alternative methods are already being used today. The researchers also explain their own views on animal experimentation, the ethical questions that concern them, and why the topic affects all of society.
For Dalessi and Doneva, the video series was also an experience in science communication. It demonstrates how complex and socially sensitive topics can be communicated openly, accessibly, and at eye level.
You can find the videos and further information about the project here: simonada.github.io/animal-research-video-series-ch
Scientifica 2026
The video series is also part of this year's Scientifica – Switzerland's largest science festival. Under the title «In Transition: Research Involving Animals and Alternatives», Tosca Dalessi, Simona Doneva and other researchers from UZH and ETH Zurich will present interactively how modern research and the 3R principles (Replace, Reduce, Refine) help to minimise animal experimentation and make existing procedures less invasive. The exhibition is designed for children, young people and adults, and can be visited on 29 and 30 August 2026 in the Zentrum Zurich.
More about the Scientifica exhibition: scientifica.ch
