Grahame Morris MP chaired the inaugural meeting of the APPG for Human Relevant Science this afternoon.

The launch comes after the Prime Minister said in his speech to the Tory party conference this morning:

‘We have seen the scramble globally for a vaccine so we are doubling funding for all types of revolutionary scientific breakthroughs with a national advanced research project agency… You will see a more united Britain, where Brexit has delivered an excitement and the ability to do things differently and better from innovation in tech, data and finance to improving our standards in animal welfare.’

The Group aims to accelerate the development and uptake of human relevant life sciences in the UK. The APPG will be a discussion forum for politicians, the human relevant life sciences sector, third sector groups, scientists and stakeholders to promote new approach methodologies that provide unique insights into human biology, transform our ability to understand human disease and can develop effective new medicines more quickly and without the use of animals.

Its programme will cover the themes of strategic funding to incentivise the development and use of human relevant methods and technologies, and incorporation of human relevant methods into regulatory guidelines on medicines development.

The APPG’s statement of purpose is to bring together MPs and Peers of all parties to accelerate the development and uptake of human relevant life sciences in the UK.

Replacing poorly performing animal tests with innovative human relevant new approach methodologies will directly benefit the UK science base and enhance the efficiency and profitability of industries that make vital contributions to the UK economy.

Speaking at the launch, Grahame Morris MP said, “I am delighted to Chair the new All-Party Parliamentary Group on Human Relevant Science. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that the current approach to developing new treatments is simply not fast enough to meet humanity’s needs. We urgently need a moonshot to transition to new approach methodologies which promise to deliver safer and more effective medicines, more quickly and at less cost.”

APPG Vice Chair Conservative MP Sir David Amess said, “I am thrilled to be Vice Chair of the new All-Party Parliamentary Group on Human Relevant Science. With the cancellation of the Autumn Budget, the Government now has more time to think about what it can do to provide much-needed financial support to boost growth in the human relevant life sciences sector and enable the UK to remain an innovative science superpower. As the country seeks a COVID-19 vaccine, this is the perfect time for parliamentarians to take seriously the growing evidence in favour of the pioneering human relevant medical research techniques that are replacing the outdated use of animals.”

The Alliance for Human Relevant Science acts as the group’s secretariat.

Grahame hosted the launch of the White Paper ‘Accelerating the Growth of Human Relevant Sciences in the United Kingdom’ in Parliament in March.