In progress in the fight to end animal experimentation, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced it will be expanding human-based research and reducing its reliance on animal testing, according to a press release.
The initiative comes on the heels of a similar announcement made by the FDA to minimize the use of animals in research in favor of more modern and ethical approaches.
“This human-based approach will accelerate innovation, improve healthcare outcomes, and deliver life-changing treatments,” NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said.
According to the NIH, some studies suggest that animal models may not reliably translate to human disease — including Alzheimer’s and cancer — due to differences between species. However, new approaches — organoids, computational models, and real-world data — are enabling researchers to generate reliable results using human-based science.
To support this shift, the NIH plans to launch a new office to coordinate the development, validation, and use of these non-animal research methods. The agency will also train grant reviewers to address animal testing bias and release an annual public report measuring the shift in research funding away from animal testing and toward alternative approaches.
Animals used in research labs are subjected to painful experiments and routinely killed in brutal ways when deemed no longer useful. This new initiative will save countless innocent beings from this needless and unjustifiable suffering while advancing effective research methods.
Lady Freethinker is grateful for this progress and will continue to fight for a future where no animal is exploited for research.
