Dear Animal Research Community,
I want to provide an update on NIH’s animal research policy.
As many of you know, the NIH recently announced that it will no longer issue Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) exclusively for studies with animal models. While NIH will continue to support grants that use laboratory animal models if scientifically appropriate, justifiable, and with animal welfare oversight, scientists must clearly explain why the study cannot be done using another model or approach.
I understand that this may cause alarm to our animal research community, and I want to assure you that we are actively engaging with the NIH around this topic.
I recently spoke with Acting NIH Deputy Director for Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives, Nicole Kleinstreuer, who provided helpful insight. She shared that this policy change will carefully reexamine the criteria for applications requesting funding solely for animal model research, requiring an explanation for why New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) are not being proposed. Detailed review criteria are in the works, and we can expect an updated Grants Policy Statement (GPS) to reflect these changes in the coming months.
The NIH hopes to release more NOFOs and Request for Proposals (RFPs) that invest in NAMs. There is also an interest in seeing more research applications that implement side-by-side models (e.g., animal models alongside computational models).
While these changes take shape, there may be a chance for our research community to share its feedback with the NIH. My office will be sure to promote these opportunities as they arise, and I will continue to report on this topic as it develops.
Please continue to reach me at [email protected] with questions and concerns.
Thank you for your continued attention and engagement with these updates
Yours,
Hal
Harold R. Collard, MD, MS
Vice Chancellor for Research
Professor of Medicine and Health Policy