‘Harrowing' — University of Galway spends hundreds of thousands of euros on overseas animal testing

University of Galway has spent over €400,000 on overseas animal testing, according to The Journal Investigates. It found that University of Galway had commissioned animal testing at overseas labs beyond the oversight of Ireland's regulator. It included studies linked to research into diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and women's health. In a response to records sought by The Journal Investigates, University of Galway identified 12 overseas studies carried out between January 2020 and February 2026. A payment schedule showed that €417,611 had been paid to the overseas organisations. This included €102,174 to Presude Lifesciences in India; €100,093 to North Carolina based Powered Research; €89,313 to Pennsylvania-based Melior Discovery and €43,307 to North Dakota State University. Also in receipt of payment was Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as well as organisations in Texas and Malaysia. The experiments involved pigs, sheep, rabbits, mice and rats. Read more President Catherine Connolly hits out at University of Galway over controversial links to Israeli institute Some animals died during the experiments, and a number had to be euthanised due to injury. In one study carried out by Melior Discovery in Pennsylvania, three mice died under anaesthesia, which the study's authors reported as 15pc mortality. US inspectors previously cited North Dakota State University over three violations, including the deaths of 11 lambs and two pigs. These arose from earlier incidents, not the sheep study commissioned by University of Galway, and a later inspection found no violations. One experiment involved an 'experimental intravaginal device' for women's health at North Dakota State University (NDSU). Read more Over 700 incidents of violence and aggression recorded at Galway hospitals in three years The Journal Investigates said that procurement documents proposed a two-stage study involving up to 60 female sheep. 10 ewes were to have their ovaries surgically removed to induce menopause before later being euthanised for tissue collection. Another experiment, carried out by Powered Research in North Carolina, was to test an experimental treatment for retinal vein occlusion and swelling at the back of the eye. This experiment involved 24 rabbits having a light sensitive dye and laser deliberately blocking veins in the animals' eyes. The rabbits would later be euthanised and their eyes removed for examination. The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), Ireland's regulator for animal research, has no regulatory role over animal experiments carried out abroad. The Journal Investigates found no evidence the studies were commissioned to avoid Irish legislation, and nothing in the records showed they breached welfare rules when they were carried out. Read more Irish Centre for Human Rights issues second open letter to University of Galway over Israel ties The President of the University of Galway's Students' Union, Seán de Búrca told the Irish Independent that 'it's incredibly concerning.' 'We have standards for animal rights,' he said. 'For the university to be using public money for this, it's harrowing in one word.' 'I simply don't think it's good enough,' he said. 'It's definitely something that I found to be quite worrying and distressing.' Contacted by the Irish Independent, a spokesperson for University of Galway said: 'University of Galway conducts research in accordance with applicable ethical and regulatory requirements. 'As part of that, we adhere to the guidelines and processes of the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) to ethically review proposed activities that involve animals for scientific purposes. We do so to evaluate and actively promote the principles of refinement, reduction, and replacement - commonly referred to as the '3 Rs' - to the use of animals in research and teaching. Read more University of Galway student on Gaza flotilla rejects PhD over ties with Israel institution 'All of our research is for scientific purposes, to advance understanding and treatment of disease. We seek to develop detection approaches for diseases such as cancer, neurological, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and endocrine disorders, and to develop medical devices and therapies to improve the lives of patients suffering from such diseases. 'Preclinical testing in relevant animal models is an essential, regulator-mandated step in proving a therapy, treatment or device is safe. It provides physiological complexity that cannot be fully replicated, and without it the path to first-in-human trials and regulatory approval is limited. 'It is only undertaken when the researcher clearly demonstrates that alternatives have been exhausted and after passing a favourable harm/benefit analysis, as required by current legislation. 'Studying complex diseases and development of novel therapies can require elements of a research project to be conducted in collaboration with an international partner which has specialised expertise. 'Where research activities are conducted outside Ireland, oversight and approvals are provided by the competent ethical and regulatory authorities in the relevant jurisdiction. 'The University ensures that collaborations are established in accordance with legal, ethical and governance requirements. 'All research involving animals undertaken at University of Galway is regulated by, and reported to, the HPRA. Where the study is a research project with partners outside of Ireland, our collaborators report to the equivalent authorities in their jurisdiction 'University of Galway is committed to ensuring the highest ethical and animal welfare standards in all our medical research.'