Research

The request

Please provide details of partnership agreements signed between the university and companies, public authorities or charities/foundations from the People’s Republic of China and payments received from any such entities, between 25 April 2024 to 24 July 2024.

Imperial's response, IMPFOI-24-360, 12 September 2024

For details of the agreements: IMPFOI-24-360 Funding from PRC (pdf)

The total funding received within the time-period specified in connection to these agreements is £1,327,233.93.

The request and Imperial's response, IMPFOI-25-052, 3 March 2025

For the year 2024:

1. Did your university conduct experiments on animals in the year 2024?

Yes

2. How many animals were used in experiments (species & number of each)?

3. How many animals were bred on the premises (species & number of each)?

Information on animal research at Imperial, including details of the animals used in research, the types of animals and the severity of the procedures is published on the Animal research pages of our website.

4. Were the animals used for medical or non-medical research?

The research conducted was for both medical and non-medical purposes.

5. What are the Home Office licence classifications for these experiments in terms of pain, lasting harm, etc. if classified (species & number of each)?

This information is included in the published figures referred to above.

6. How many animals were killed without being used for experiments (species & a number of each)?

This information is not held in a readily extractable format and in order to respond to your query, we would have to manually check details of all research involving animals ongoing in 2024 to extract the information requested.  This exercise would exceed the 18-hour time limit for responding to FOI requests (Section 12 Freedom of Information Act).  While this data is not held, the university has an active policy in place to promote the sharing of tissues if there are any surplus animals, in accordance with the 3Rs. the 3Rs Hub

7. How many animals were rehomed (species & number of each)?

No animals were rehomed after use in 2024.

8. Of those that were not re-homed, why not?

In the majority of cases, it is necessary to humanely kill the animals at the conclusion of experiments in order to collect organs or blood that are required for generating the scientific data.  In addition, many of the animals used carry genetic modifications and release of such animals into an uncontrolled environment could lead to such mutations transferring into wild populations and this would be contrary to the provisions set out in relevant legislation concerning genetically modified organisms.  Moreover, animals maintained by the University are of a high health status and their release into a normal environment could lead to infection and potential suffering for the animals.

9. Were there more non-animal research methods used than animal methods? Eg. 70% where non-animal models were used and 30% where animal models were used.

Yes.  We are not able to provide a precise figure, but only a small percentage of the university’s research involves the use of animals and there are robust policies in place to ensure animals are only used if there is no alternative to their use.

10. Which non-animal research methods are available at the university? Eg. 3D printing, human skin cells, organ-on-a-chip.

Information on the types of non-animal alternative methods used by researchers at Imperial is published on the Animal Research pages of our website as well as in our recently launched dedicated 3Rs website.

11. a) When was the last home office inspection?

The last in person Audit visit by ASRU took place on the 23rd September 2024.

b) Was non compliance reported?

No

c) If yes, what was it and what was the remedy?

N/A

The request and Imperial's response, IMPFOI-26-258, 27 May 2026

For the year 2024:

1. Did your university conduct experiments on animals in the year 2025?

Yes

2. How many animals were used in experiments (species & number of each)?

3. How many animals were bred on the premises (species & number of each)?

Information on animal research at Imperial, including details of the animals used in research, the types of animals and the severity of the procedures is published on the Animal research pages of our website.

4. Were the animals used for medical or non-medical research?

The research conducted was for both medical and non-medical purposes.

5. What are the Home Office licence classifications for these experiments in terms of pain, lasting harm, etc. if classified (species & number of each)?

This information is included in the published figures referred to above.

6. How many animals were killed without being used for experiments (species & a number of each)?

This information is not held in a readily extractable format and in order to respond to your query, we would have to manually check details of all research involving animals ongoing in 2025 to extract the information requested.  This exercise would exceed the 18-hour time limit for responding to FOI requests (Section 12 Freedom of Information Act).  While this data is not held, the university has an active policy in place to promote the sharing of tissues if there are any surplus animals, in accordance with the 3Rs. the 3Rs Hub

7. How many animals were rehomed (species & number of each)?

No animals were rehomed after use in 2025.

8. Of those that were not re-homed, why not?

In the majority of cases, it is necessary to humanely kill the animals at the conclusion of experiments in order to collect organs or blood that are required for generating the scientific data.  In addition, many of the animals used carry genetic modifications and release of such animals into an uncontrolled environment could lead to such mutations transferring into wild populations and this would be contrary to the provisions set out in relevant legislation concerning genetically modified organisms.  Moreover, animals maintained by the University are of a high health status and their release into a normal environment could lead to infection and potential suffering for the animals.

9. Were there more non-animal research methods used than animal methods? Eg. 70% where non-animal models were used and 30% where animal models were used.

Yes.  We are not able to provide a precise figure, but only a small percentage of the university’s research involves the use of animals and there are robust policies in place to ensure animals are only used if there is no alternative to their use.

10. Which non-animal research methods are available at the university? Eg. 3D printing, human skin cells, organ-on-a-chip.

Information on the types of non-animal alternative methods used by researchers at Imperial is published on the Animal Research pages of our website as well as in our recently launched dedicated 3Rs website.

11. a) When was the last home office inspection?

The last in person Audit visit by ASRU took place on 27 October 2025.

b) Was non compliance reported?

No

c) If yes, what was it and what was the remedy?

N/A

The request and Imperial's response, IMPFOI-24-158, 7 May 2024

FOI Request and Response, IMPFOI-24-158 (pdf)

FOI response IMPFOI-24-158, Instances of non-compliance (pdf)

 The request and Imperial's response, IMPFOI-24-195, 7 June 2024

Please advise how many animals, and of which species, were subject to scientific research, covered by ASPA in each year from 2021 to 2024 inclusive

Information on animal research at Imperial, including details of the animals used in research, the types of animals and the severity of the procedures is published on the Animal Research pages of our website, please see links below. Information is exempt from the Freedom of Information Act (Section 21) if it is already reasonably accessible to the requester. The published information is updated annually for the previous year, i.e. 2023 information will be published on those pages this year. Information that is intended for future publication is exempt from the Freedom of Information Act by virtue of Section 22 of the Act.  Numbers and types of animals

Please advise of the specific purposes for which the procedures were conducted?

The procedures were conducted to provide information for basic and translational research for the following purposes: cancer, cardio, developmental, endocrine, ethology, gastro, immune, infection, infectious disease, multisystemic, musculoskeletal, nervous system, oncology and respiratory.

Please advise  of the severity classifications for the above procedures.

Please refer to the published information referred to above.

Please provide me with the AWERB (Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body) minutes from 2021 to 2024 inclusive.

Please see pdf document: FOI response, IMPFOI-24-195 (pdf)

The request

Please provide:

1. A list of all studies/trials completed by The Centre for Psychedelic Studies from April 2018- April 2023 that have not been published.
2. The number and nature of any complaints which have been made to the University by participants who have taken part in studies by The Centre for Psychedelic Studies between April 2018- April 2023.
3. The number and nature of  any Adverse Events, Adverse Reactions and Serious Adverse Events forms recorded by The Centre for Psychedelic Studies from April 2018- April 2023.

Imperial's response, IMPFOI-24-212, 5 June 2024

The Following studies have been completed, but the reports not yet published:

• Psilocybin as a treatment for Anorexia Nervosa: A Pilot study
• Psilocybin in patients with fibromyalgia: Brain biomarkers of action
• Studying Synaptogenesis using [11C] UCB-J PET-fMRI

There have been no complaints made by any study participants.

For the study ‘Psilocybin vs Escitalopram for Major Depressive Disorder: Comparative Mechanisms (Psilodep-RC)’, the adverse events have been published: Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression. Adverse events and reaction data for the unpublished studies will be included as part of the publication of reports on those studies.

The request

For the financial years 2020/21, 2021/2022, 2022/23, 2023/24, I would like to be provided with details on accepted donations (worth over £10,000), gifts (worth over £10,000), grants (worth over £10,000) and research funding (worth over £10,000) that have come from Chinese, Russian or Iranian individuals, companies, charities, government departments/agencies and other organisations.

Imperial's response, IMPFOI-24-388, 20 September 2024

FOI response, IMPFOI-24-388 (pdf)

The request and Imperial's response, IMPFOI-25-592, 18 December 2025

IMPFOI-25-592, Chinese educational institutions and companies (pdf)

The request

For the period 1 August 2024 to 31 July 2026 for each of the 20 companies listed, please provide:

1. attendance and fees paid by any of the companies listed to attend careers fairs
2. details of studentships supported by philanthropic donations from the listed companies
3. details of scholarships funded by the listed companies
4. details of events hosted and/or promoted by the University that involved representatives of any of the listed companies
5. details of any training provided to university staff by representatives of the listed companies
6. whether the university has done consultancy work for the companies, with a count of consultancy payments per company listed

The companies:

• Airbus
• AVIC
• Babcock
• BAE Systems
• Boeing
• Cobham
• Elbit Systems
• General Dynamics
• General Electric
• GKN Aerospace
• L3 Harris Technologies
• Leonardo MW
• Lockheed Martin
• MBDA
• Northrop Grumman
• QinetiQ
• Raytheon (RTX)
• Rolls-Royce
• Serco
• Thales 

Imperial College London response, IMPFOI-26-522, 23 October 2026

Please note that the companies listed above conduct business other than arms trade and any relationship between the companies listed and Imperial College London would not necessarily have any relation to the production of or trade in arms.

Careers Fairs

BAE Systems attended Careers Fairs at Imperial College London in June 2025 (cost £425, February 2026 (cost £500) and June 2026 (cost £450). MBDA attended the Engineering Fair in October 2024 (cost £675). None of the other companies listed have attended Careers Fairs within the period specified. All companies attending a careers fair pay a fee to attend which covers the costs of running the events.

Studentships and/or scholarships supported by philanthropic donations from the listed companies

In 2025, the university received philanthropic funding from Leonardo UK Ltd to the value of £27,000.00 to supporting a scholarship within the Department of Aeronautics. The Scholarship was available for award in academic year 2025-26. There has been no subsequent scholarship from Leonardo. No other funding has been received from the listed companies for studentships and/or scholarships.

Events and training

The university does not hold a central record of all training or events that take place at the university. Events and training may be organised locally at Faculty or Departmental level. It would exceed the 18-hour FOI time-limit for every Department at the university to search their records of all training or events for information held within the scope of the request. The university can confirm that the central teams responsible for organising Imperial events and for staff training have no records of any training or events involving representatives of any of the listed companies.

Consultancy work

Imperial Consultants, the university’s consultancy and commercial services team has provided consultancy services to five of the companies,  listed as set out below. 

Imperial College London has not engaged in any research partnerships with or received any philanthropic donations from the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI), also known as the China Academy of General Technology nor the associated entities listed below.

• National Natural Science Foundation of China-China Academy of General Technology Joint Fund for Basic Research
• National Natural Science Foundation of China-China Academy of General Technology Collaborative Fund for Basic Research
• National Natural Science Foundation of China-China Academy of General Technology Joint Fund for Basic Research
• National Natural Science Foundation of China-China Academy of General Technology Collaborative Fund for Basic Research
• National Natural Science Foundation of China-Tongyong Union Foundation
   

In response to the UK Security Service (MI5) espionage alert relating to the CGTRI, Imperial College London issued a requirement that all academic or research staff confirmed to our Research Security team either that they had no interactions with CGTRI or, if they did, that these would cease immediately. To date, no such interactions have been identified.

Any formal academic collaborations or receipt of philanthropic income and other gifts require approval through the university’s Relationships Policy. This enables any risks due to financial, legal, research security or reputational considerations to be formally assessed and the decision whether to enter into (or renew) a relationship to be made at the appropriate level of seniority within the university; informal relationships are expected to align with the requirements of the Relationships Policy. All relationships with third parties entered into by Imperial should support and be consistent with Imperial’s mission, strategic aims and objectives.

The request

Please provide details of donations and research funding over £500 from Saudi Arabian nationals, companies, public authorities, or other state sponsored bodies including the Public Investment Fund (PIF) in each of the last five financial years and the current financial year to date.   

Imperial's response, MPFOI-24-238, 7 June 2024

Please see the linked pdf document for details of research funding received. FOI response, IMPFOI-24-238

Imperial has not received any donations over £500 from Saudi Arabian individuals, public authorities or other state sponsored bodies.  
 
While outside the scope of your request because funding was not received from a Saudi Arabian national, company, public authority or other state sponsored body, Imperial has received funding from Community Jameel which is linked to Saudi Arabia. For example, the Abdul Latif Jameel Institute for Disease and Emergency Analytics.
 
While outside the scope of your request because funding was received from a UK company and not one registered in Saudi Arabia, Imperial has received research funding from Aramco Overseas Company B.V and ARAMCO Overseas Company UK Ltd.
 

The request

For as far back as records permit, please disclose the amount of formal research partnership funding received from the companies listed in FOI response IMPFOI-23-435, dated 6 September 2023.

Imperial's response, IMPFOI-26-080, 4 March 2026

FOI Response, IMPFOI-26-080, Fossil Fuel Companies Funding per Year (xlsx)

The request

Please provide the total amount received in research grants and contracts since 2013 from all sources and the total amount received in research grants and contracts from entities headquartered in the People’s Republic of China.

Imperial's response, IMMFOI-23-679, 18 January 2024

The total amount received in research grants and contracts from all sources is publicly available information which can be accessed via the University’s Annual report and accounts or the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

We report on expenditure actually incurred under the research grant or contract. The figures provided relate to all formal research grants and contracts but may exclude travel grants, arrangements involving expenditure below £15,000 or an industry “top-up” to a specific studentship scheme.
 
Research grants and contracts expenditure from organisations with billing addresses in China: 

The request

Please provide details of any current or active research partnerships involving universities based in Israel. Please also confirm whether there are any research partnerships with military and defence companies that were active within the past 5 financial years or that are ongoing.

Imperial's response, IMPFOI-24-438, 4 November 2024

Imperial has no active research partnerships with universities based in Israel.

Our Research Office has searched their database using the search terms “military” and “defence”. Imperial has research partnerships that were active within the past 5 financial years or that are ongoing with the following:

• Airbus
• AWE PLC
• BAE Systems (Operations) Limited
• Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (UK)
• Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
• Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (USA)
• Defense Threat Reduction Agency
• Ministry of Defence
• Mitsubishi Heavy industries Engine & Turbocharger, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd
• QinetiQ Limited
• Sandia National Laboratories
• US Air Force
• US Army

Research partnerships with “arms trade companies”

Please provide details of formal research partnerships with any of the companies listed below:

• Airbus
• Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE)
• AVIC
• Babcock
• BAE systems
• Boeing
• Cobham
• Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl)
• Elbit Systems
• General Dynamics
• General Electric
• GKN Aerospace
• L3 Harris Technologies
• Leonardo MW
• Lockheed Martin
• MBDA
• Ministry of Defence (MoD)
• Northrop Grumman
• QinetiQ
• Raytheon (RTX)
• Rolls-Royce
• Serco
• Thales

Imperial's response, IMPFOI-25-242, 21 August 2025

IMPFOI-25-342 Research Partnerships (pdf)

The request

What were the University's top 5 health research funders over the last two reporting years by largest aggregate sum, and how much health research funding did they contribute? Please specify the currency in which the funding was received (EUR/GBP/USD etc). 

Imperial's response, IMPFOI-25-171, 12 May 2025

IMPFOI-25-171 - Top 5 health research funders (pdf)