“‘We have to respect animals’: NIH ends funding for animal-only experiments”
In a historic shift, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced it will no longer exclusively seek research proposals involving animal testing, instead prioritizing human based methods in all new funding opportunities. This change aligns with NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya’s earlier commitment to focus on human biology and marks a significant move toward reducing animal use in biomedical research.
The announcement, made during the first-ever Workshop on Reducing Animal Testing co hosted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), reflects a broader commitment to embrace nonanimal research technologies, which are faster, more cost effective, and, importantly, more humane.
This decision is the result of years of advocacy by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, whose efforts have pushed for the prioritization of human based models. The new policy also highlights the leadership of Dr. Nicole Kleinstreuer, Deputy Director of the NIH, whose work has been instrumental in advancing nonanimal methods.
This transformative shift not only promises to reduce animal suffering but also signals a more effective and ethical future for biomedical research, as emphasized by FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin A. Makary. With this change, the NIH sets a powerful example of scientific leadership, prioritizing both human relevance and animal welfare in future research.
*At Whiskers, Paws and Love®, we believe the future of scientific research must reflect compassion and respect for all living beings. The NIH’s groundbreaking decision to prioritize human based methods over animal testing is a major step toward a more ethical and humane world. We fully support this shift, which not only advances science but also helps eliminate unnecessary animal suffering.
By embracing nonanimal research, we are moving toward a future where both human progress and animal welfare are at the forefront, inspiring a compassionate and lasting change in research practices worldwide.
