The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced that it will no longer issue funding opportunities that require the use of animal models. This marks a significant change in how federally funded biomedical research in the United States will be structured.1
From now on, all new NIH funding opportunities will include language that allows or encourages the use of non-animal methods, also known as New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). These methods include organ-on-a-chip systems, computational modeling, 3D bioprinting, and ex vivo testing using fresh human tissue.
The policy change follows the April 2025 NIH-FDA Workshop on Reducing Animal Testing, where agency leaders discussed strategies for increasing the use of human-focused research approaches. To support the transition, NIH is launching the Office of Research Innovation, Validation, and Application (ORIVA). This office will coordinate efforts to validate and apply non-animal methods in NIH-funded projects.
NIH also plans to revise the grant review process to ensure proposals using human-based techniques are evaluated without bias toward traditional animal models. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expressed support for this shift, citing potential benefits for improving drug safety and development timelines.
This change is part of a broader federal trend toward incorporating more human-relevant testing methods in biomedical research. The FDA has announced long-term plans to replace certain animal tests, including those for monoclonal antibodies, with validated NAMs.
The NIH’s updated approach signals an increasing emphasis on alternative testing methods in federally funded science. Researchers applying for future NIH grants will be able to propose a wider range of study designs that do not rely solely on animal models.
References:
1. “In Landmark Shift, NIH Announces No More Exclusive Funding for Animal Experiments.” Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, www.pcrm.org/news/news-releases/landmark-shift-nih-announces-no-more-exclusive-funding-animal-experiments. Accessed 18 Aug. 2025.
