The NIH, in fact, began moving in this direction early last year when Monica Bertagnolli, the agency’s director at the time, accepted recommendations of an advisory committee working group that was convened in 2022. The group, which reported its findings in December 2023, recommended the NIH develop and promote alternative research methods, and also create and maintain infrastructure for that work. The working group was formed after Congress directed the NIH to assess alternative research methods, but also followed calls by some members of Congress to review animal-based research amid increasing concerns over the reliance on this form of testing.

A spokesperson for Americans for Medical Progress, a nonprofit that advocates the continued use of animals in biomedical research, noted the new NIH posture builds on those recommendations, but argued that “real progress will require an integrated approach. The key here will be its implementation. Details like funding for the development, validation, and training of novel alternative methods remain unclear, particularly during these times of budget uncertainties.

“Furthermore, the field still faces challenges around shared definitions, reporting standards, and data-sharing — all of which must be resolved for initiatives like this to succeed. Overall, our hope is that this effort is truly complementary to ongoing work with animals. … Animal studies continue to play a critical role in protecting public health, and we must not see progress in one area come at the expense of another.”

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Published April 30, 2025 by Ed Silverman, STAT