We applaud new National Institutes of Health initiatives to prioritize human-based research

Several new initiatives reflect aims of the HEARTS Act

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced new initiatives aimed at reducing the use of animals in NIH-funded research by accelerating the development and adoption of human-based methods. These actions closely align with the aims of the Humane and Existing Alternatives in Research and Testing Sciences (HEARTS) Act, which we have long supported. 

As part of these efforts, the NIH plans to establish the Office of Research Innovation, Validation, and Application (ORIVA) to promote and coordinate non-animal research. ORIVA will expand funding, training, infrastructure, and evaluation practices that emphasize human relevance and translational success. In addition, NIH will revise its grant review process to address potential bias toward animal studies and ensure inclusion of experts in alternative methods. 

Similarly, the HEARTS Act proposes creating a dedicated center to drive the development and uptake of non-animal methods through funding, training, and interagency coordination. It also calls for systematic tracking of animal use and strategic efforts to reduce it. Importantly, the HEARTS Act would reform the grant review process by introducing incentives for using non-animal methods and requiring at least one reviewer with relevant expertise in non-animal methods. 

While the NIH’s initiatives represent important progress, they remain  administrative actions that could be altered or reversed by future leadership. In contrast, the HEARTS Act would put these reforms into law by amending the Public Health Service Act - providing lasting protections and ensuring that the shift toward human-relevant science is not just encouraged but secured. Legislative action is critical to protect against potential future rollbacks and to firmly embed the prioritization of non-animal methods in federally funded research. 

That’s why continued support for the HEARTS Act remains essential - to secure, solidify and expand these advancements in ethical and modern science. 

Our Head of Public Affairs North America, Monica Engebretson said, “We applaud the NIH’s plans, and urge them to press forward with the acceleration of humane and human-relevant science. In 2025, we should no longer cling to outdated science based on animal testing that was developed decades ago. Instead, we should leverage the power of modern technology to bring faster, more accurate and more humane solutions to the development and regulation of medicines. Following so soon after a similar announcement by the Food and Drug Administration, this is great news, and we hope the start of a federal initiative to phase-out animal testing in its entirety.”  

U.S. residents can help advance the HEARTS Act by contacting their Representative and asking that they become a cosponsor of the bill. Take action here.

You can watch a short video about the HEARTS Act here.