MINI REVIEW article
Front. Anim. Sci.
Sec. Animal Welfare and Policy
This article is part of the Research TopicIntegrating Machine Learning and AI in Biological Research: Unraveling Complexities and Driving AdvancementsView all 5 articles
Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Research: Advancing Non-Animal Methodologies
Provisionally accepted
- 1Central Animal Research Facility, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka-576104, Manipal, India
- 2Center for Animal Research, Ethics and Training (CARET), Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka-576104, Manipal, India
- 3Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka -576104, Manipal, India
- 4Department of Paediatrics, Dr. TMA Pai Rotary Hospital, Karkala, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka -576104,, Manipal, India
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Animal models for several decades have offered a foundation for discovering human physiology along with promoting therapeutic innovation. However, limitations like translational gaps, controversy ridden ethics, as well as regulatory issues are even more dearly acknowledged now. The "3Rs" (Re-placement, Reduction, Refinement) charts its course to humane as well as efficacious science with artificial intelligence ("AI") as a chief facilitator of such a transition. By deliv-ering sophisticated analytical power, AI renders 3Rs enforceable with concomitant predictions, simulations, as well as validations while minimizing animal subjects' dependency. Machine as well as deep learning algorithms are capable of processing massive, complex datasets to simulate human biology, forecast therapy outcomes, as well as discover candidate drugs thereby circumventing large-scale animal usage. In such a manner, AI can directly facilitate Replacement while promoting Reduction through maximized experimental designs as well as Refinement through data-driven improvements for animal welfare. The inter-play of AI as well as latest alternative methods such as organoids, organs-on-chips, as well as body-on-chips devices is emphasized within this review which also briefs on evolving international policies with regards to AI-ethics guidelines. This mini-review evaluates the modern role of AI in biomedical research, presenting its role across drug discovery, toxicology, disease modelling as well as personalized therapy. We evaluate both encouraging prospects as well as existing challenges such as strict validation requirements as well as ethics controls as well as inter-disciplinary collaboration that inform AI's embracing within animal-research free models.
Keywords: 3Rs, artificial intelligence, preclinical studies, Animal Models, new alternative methodologies
Received: 16 Aug 2025; Accepted: 31 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Sandhu, Parida, Hegde and V.. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Amrita Parida, amrita_parida@yahoo.com
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