Lord Hanson, Minister of State (Lords Minister) for the Home Office, today announced that Dr Sally Robinson has been appointed as chair of the Animals in Science Committee (ASC) following a robust competition conducted in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Dr Robinson will take up the appointment with the ASC on 1 June 2025, succeeding Professor David Main who has served as ASC chair for 6 years.

Home Office Minister Lord Hanson said:

I am pleased to welcome Dr Robinson as the new chair of the ASC. Her extensive knowledge and experience will be an asset to the Committee.

I would also like to extend my thanks to Professor Main for his leadership, expertise, and dedication during his tenure as chair.

This government is fully committed to reducing the need for animals in scientific research and assuring protections to animals where no alternatives are available.

Under Dr Robinson’s leadership, the ASC will continue to provide clear, independent, and transparent advice to the government on these important issues.

Dr Sally Robinson spent the majority of her career at AstraZeneca as a toxicologist, then Senior Director of Animal Sciences and Technology.

She has a breadth of experience in relation to animal research through roles predominantly within the pharmaceutical industry but more recently in academia. She has over 20 years of experience of implementation of the 3Rs at local and international level, and promotion of a Culture of Care and governance through Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Bodies (AWERB) with over 30 publications on these topics. Dr Robinson has experience of chairing a wide range of committees or expert working groups, including the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) Research and Animal Welfare group, UK NC3Rs expert working groups and panels and AWERBs.

Incoming chair of the ASC Dr Sally Robinson said:

The use of animals in research is of scientific, ethical, and societal interest fostering a diverse and polarised range of views. I believe the Animals in Science Committee provides an important role in considering all these views when formulating its advice.

I look forward to taking up the role of chair of the Animals in Science Committee and to working with Committee members using evidence and expert opinion to develop independent, objective, and balanced advice.

I would like to thank and recognise my predecessor Professor Main who has led the ASC since 2019. I hope to continue to build on the achievements of the ASC to date.

The ASC is an independent public body sponsored by the Home Office. It provides independent advice about issues relating to the use of animals in scientific procedures within the context of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.