The Animal Free Labcast
The Animal Free Labcast is hosted by the CEO of Animal Free Research UK, Carla Owen, and is a frank, lively exchange and sharing of ideas and experiences by leading scientists, policy makers and animal protection ambassadors - all of whom seek a kinder science.Carla and her guests cut through the noise to break down why we need to accelerate human relevant science if we are to end the medical emergency - that which is in large part caused by the continued reliance on animals as models for human disease research.Listen in to new episodes every two weeks, starting on June 29, 2022!
Episodes
51 episodes
Animal Free Labcast #49 - Strategy, Science & The Road Ahead
In episode 49 of the Animal Free Labcast, hosts Carla and Dr. Gemma Davis welcome two key guests from Animal Free Research UK — Head of Science, Dr. Ross Dobie and Director of Public Affairs, Isobel Martin — f...
•
25:27
Animal Free Labcast #48 - Dr Ethan Perkins – Big Questions & Breakthrough Prostate Cancer Research
In this episode of the Animal Free Labcast, Carla Owen and Dr Gemma Davis discuss the UK Government’s new strategy to phase out animal testing and what it means for animals and science. Early feedback from supporters shows strong concern, with ...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 48
•
31:18
Animal Free Labcast #47 - Government Strategy to Replace Animals in Science
In this special episode, Carla Owen and Dr Gemma Davis speak with Public Affairs Manager Aaron Davidson about the UK Government’s new strategy to accelerate the phase-out of animal testing. They outline key positives, including a clearer commit...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 47
•
29:24
Animal Free Labcast #46 - New Voices, New Vision: The Next Generation Inspiring Animal-Free Innovation
In this inspiring episode, Carla and Gemma spotlight two pioneering PhD researchers from the University of Glasgow’s Lifetime CDT programme – Celia Ribes Balanza and Athena Mattheou – who are redefining what the future of science looks like.
•
Season 4
•
Episode 46
•
26:20
Animal Free Labcast #45 - Shocking Stats and Hope for the Future
In this powerful episode, Carla and Dr. Gemma unpack the newly released 2024 Home Office statistics on animal experiments — revealing that 2.64 million procedures were carried out in British labs last year, with only a 1.2% decrease from 2023. ...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 45
•
29:58
Animal Free Labcast #44 - Your Questions Answered: From Policy to Petri Dishes
In this episode of the Animal Free Labcast, Carla Owen and Dr Gemma Davies answer your top questions about animal-free research — and record on video for the first time (tech hiccups included!).Carla shares how Animal Free Research UK is...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 44
•
21:48
Animal Free Labcast #43 - Dr Adjanie Patabendige – Heart Health and Dementia: The Hidden Link
This week Carla and Dr Gemma Davies speak with Dr Adjanie Patabendige from the University of Derby, who is pioneering animal-free research into how irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation) may increase the risk of dementia. Using human cells a...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 43
•
28:30
Animal Free Labcast #42 - Dr Sam Aspinall – A Future Beyond Gelatine
In this episode of the Animal Free Labcast, Carla and Dr Gemma Davies are joined by Dr Sam Aspinall from the University of Hertfordshire, who is developing a synthetic, animal-free alternative to gelatine – a material found everywhere from labs...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 42
•
27:53
Animal Free Labcast #41 - Your Questions on Animal-Free Science, Answered
In this episode of the Animal Free Labcast, Carla is joined by Dr Gemma Davies to tackle your burning questions about animal-free science. From why animal testing persists despite its failures, to the biggest areas of animal use in res...
•
31:46
Animal Free Labcast #40 - Emily Sutton - Art, Animals, and Advocacy
“It’s awful for the animals - and it’s not even useful for the humans.”In this episode, award-winning illustrator Emily Sutton joins Carla and Dr Gemma Davies to reflect on the current state of animal use in science, as well as share the...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 40
•
29:13
Animal Free Labcast #39 - Stephanie Modi – Breaking the Antibody Habit
We’re back with another great episode! Join Carla Owen and co-host Dr Gemma Davies as they sit down with Dr Stephanie Modi, Science Manager at Animal Free Research UK, to unpack a topic that affects us all – antibodies.Stephanie explains...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 39
•
25:39
Animal Free Labcast #38 - Dr Dania Movia – 2.1 Million Reasons We Need Change
Carla Owen and Dr Gemma Davies are joined by special guest Dr Dania Movia, recipient of the Animal Free Research UK Outstanding Scientist Award. The hosts share updates from Parliament, where MP visits to Animal Free Research UK-funded labs are...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 38
•
31:45
Animal Free Labcast #37 - Herbie’s Heroes: Jake Lambert, Russell Kane and Diane Morgan
This week on the Animal Free Labcast, hosts Carla Owen and Dr Gemma Davis are joined by three comedy favourites – Jake Lambert, Russell Kane and Diane Morgan – who share why they’re lending their voices to the
•
Season 4
•
Episode 37
•
24:57
Animal Free Labcast #36 - Herbie’s Heroes: Deborah Meaden, Pandora Christie, Kirsty Gallacher and Pete Wicks
This week on the Animal Free Labcast, Carla Owen and Dr Gemma Davis spotlight the launch of the Herbie’s Heroes campaign – joined by celebrity supporters Deborah Meaden, Pandora Christie, Kirs...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 36
•
28:53
Animal Free Labcast #35 - Isobel Martin – Public Affairs Takeover: A Turning Point for Dogs in Labs?
This week on The Animal Free Labcast, Carla Owen is joined by Isobel Martin to discuss the recent parliamentary debate on ending dog experiments, sparked by a petition with over 238,000 signatures. Despite strong public and cross-party support,...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 35
•
25:18
Animal Free Labcast #34 - Isobel Martin – A Legal Duty Ignored: World Day for Animals in Laboratories
This week on The Animal Free Labcast, Carla Owen and Dr Gemma Davies mark World Day for Animals in Laboratories by exposing the lack of progress in replacing animals in research, despite legal commitments.They’re joined by Isabel Martin,...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 34
•
23:37
Animal Free Labcast #33 - Professor Jens Schwamborn – Parkinson’s & Precision Medicine
This week, Carla Owen and Dr Gemma Davies speak with Professor Jens Schwamborn about using midbrain organoids, 3D human brain models, to study Parkinson’s without animal testing. With Parkinson’s cases rising and current treatments limited, Jen...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 33
•
32:09
Animal Free Labcast #32 - Aaron Davidson – From Labs to Legislation
Carla Owen and Dr. Gemma Davies return with another exciting episode of the Animal Free Labcast, diving into the latest developments in the movement to end animal testing. They discuss breakthroughs in organ-on-a-chip technology and how it’s pa...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 32
•
26:51
Animal Free Labcast #31 - Dr Nick Peake – British Science Week & Better Medicine
This week, Carla Owen and Dr Gemma Davies explore British Science Week and the push for animal-free research. They discuss last week's poll, where 96% of listeners rejected animal organ transplants, and highlight concerns over foetal calf serum...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 31
•
33:53
Animal Free Labcast #30 - Carla & Dr Gemma – Herbie’s Law & the Heart of the Matter
This week on the Animal Free Labcast, Carla Owen and Dr Gemma Davies chat about the recent wins for Herbie’s Law in Parliament, celebrate women who are paving the way for International Day for Women and Girls in Science and dive into questions ...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 30
•
32:06
Animal Free Labcast #29 - Dr Cinzia Allegrucci – World Cancer Day Special
Join us for a World Cancer Day special as Carla Owen and Dr Gemma Davies explore the urgent need for human-specific cancer research. Special guest, Dr Cinzia Allegrucci, shares her groundbreaking triple-negative breast cancer research, develope...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 29
•
27:28
Animal Free Labcast #28 - Steve Race MP – Herbie’s Law in Parliament
The Animal Free Labcast is back with a fresh new format for 2025! 🐾 Join Carla Owen and our brand new co-host, Dr Gemma Davies, as they dive into the latest news in our mission for animal-free research. In this lively episode, we welcome specia...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 28
•
24:51
Animal Free Labcast #27 - Joao Barroso – Leading the Way
Join Carla Owen and Joao Barroso, who works for the European Commission, the Joint Research Centre within the ECVAM unit, in an eye-opening podcast episode. From animal-free antibodies to the European Commission's ground-breaking recommendation...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 27
•
38:13
Animal Free Labcast #26 - Matt Dalby – Transition, Transform, Evolve
Join our Labcast host, Carla Owen, as she welcomes Professor Matt Dalby, a leading expert in the field of non-animal, human-relevant technologies. Matt is at the forefront of ground-breaking research; his insights and experiences pr...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 26
•
29:06
Animal Free Labcast #25 - Sophie O'Kane – Conversations of Change
Meet the winner of Animal Free Research UK’s Early Career Scientist Award, Sophie O’Kane, and explore the transformative power of personal experiences and human relationships in driving change. Sophie shares her journey of transitioning from de...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 25
•
39:12
