Scientists told to improve the design of studies and ensure the correct number of animals are used or face funding cutsResearch agencies have ordered UK scientists to improve the way they use animals in experiments. Too often poorly designed projects – to test new medicines for strokes, cancer and other conditions – have produced meaningless results and wasted animals’ lives, the organisations have warned.In some cases, researchers – desperate to control the costs of their work – have underestimated the number of animals needed to test a new medicine.