NIH’s move away from animal research is good news for patients

An electron micrograph shows abnormally shaped and structured mitochondria in the liver of a mutant mouse that models methylmalonic acidemia. (NIH/Public domain)

I commend the National Institutes of Health for Tuesday’s announcement that it will begin leaning into human- rather than animal-based research. As a physician in Salida, I believe this is great news for human health. Experiments using organoids, tissue chips, computational models, and real-world data analyses produce results that more directly translate to humans.

“For decades, our biomedical research system has relied heavily on animal models. With this initiative, NIH is ushering in a new era of innovation,” NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said in the announcement. “By integrating advances in data science and technology with our growing understanding of human biology, we can fundamentally reimagine the way research is conducted — from clinical development to real-world application. This human-based approach will accelerate innovation, improve healthcare outcomes, and deliver life-changing treatments. It marks a critical leap forward for science, public trust, and patient care.”

This positive news comes just days after the Food and Drug Administration announced it would begin to phase out animal use in favor of human-relevant research methods.

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This shift away from animal experiments will allow new, more effective pharmaceuticals to be delivered to the market sooner for patients who need them. 

It will save money. A 2022 economic analysis estimated that the use of non-animal technologies for new drug toxicity testing instead of animal tests could generate over $24 billion in increased research productivity. This would mean streamlined drug development and translate to cost savings for patients.

And, it will reduce the number — estimated at more than 100 million — of dogs, cats, monkeys, mice, rats and other animals being used in painful and deadly experiments each year. 

In a recent poll, 86% of Americans said “animal experimentation should be phased out in favor of more modern research methods.”

I wholeheartedly agree. And now, the NIH and FDA do too.

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