The UK is a world leader in pioneering medical research that has saved and improved the lives of millions. Not just human patients, but animal ones too.

Today's medicines and surgical techniques could not have been discovered without better understanding of disease and the way the body works - the result of basic research programmes in universities, hospitals and research institutes. These insights have been taken forward by companies, to be used eventually by doctors and vets.

Most of the research and development needed to go from an idea to a treatment does not use animals, but some does. Animal research in this country is carried out humanely and brings real benefits to all of us. Select an area of interest to find out how it plays a key role in the development of the treatments that we have today. These sections also highlight current lines of investigation and the challenges facing medical researchers.