Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund welcome announcement of new initiatives to help replace animal experiments

WASHINGTON (September 21, 2026)—Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund, formerly called the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund, applaud the National Institutes of Health for announcing five new initiatives that will help replace animal experiments with innovative human-based research technologies. Today’s NIH announcement included more than $88 million in funding for biomedical infrastructure supporting alternatives to animal experiments, more than $7 million in awards for technologies that can improve scientific measurements without harming animals, and the creation of a new laboratory combining human organoid models with robotics, AI and advanced data tools. The agency will also recruit more grant reviewers with expertise in human-based science and seek input from the scientific community about reporting on the number of vertebrate animals used in NIH-funded research.

This news continues NIH’s commitment to phase out animal experiments in favor of more advanced methods that are better for both animals and humans. In recent months, the agency has prioritized human-based research technologies and established a new office to coordinate the development and adoption of non-animal methods.

Tracie Letterman, vice president of federal affairs at Humane World Action Fund, said:

“This is tremendous progress toward a future where animals are no longer the default in biomedical research. For years, we have urged Congress and federal agencies to invest in reliable, human-relevant methods and remove the policy barriers that have kept animal experiments entrenched, and these new NIH initiatives demonstrate that momentum is translating into meaningful action. By putting substantial resources behind non-animal approaches and bringing the right expertise into the grant-review process, NIH can accelerate a transformation that delivers better science, protects animals and sets an example for research institutions around the world.”

Kathleen Conlee, vice president of animal research issues at Humane World for Animals, said:

“This announcement from NIH marks an important shift toward building the infrastructure, expertise and evidence base needed for human-based biomedical research to thrive. Investment in technologies that don’t rely on animals, stronger expertise in peer review, and greater transparency about animal experiments can help create the conditions for scientists to develop and apply non-animal alternatives that are more directly relevant to human biology. We welcome this substantial commitment and look forward to working with NIH to ensure that these investments translate into rigorous, reproducible science that reduces reliance on animals while advancing human health.”

Today’s announcement comes on the heels of several other exciting developments to reduce animal research and testing at the NIH, FDA, and EPA over the last year and a half. Across the federal government, a fundamental shift to reduce reliance on animal experiments and advance human-based, clinically relevant science is underway. For example, the FDA today issued a direct final rule to implement significant changes to its drug and biologics regulations to remove outdated references to animal testing, a major step toward clearing regulatory barriers and encouraging drug companies to make greater use of cutting-edge non-animal testing methods, an action Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund requested in our 2024 petition to FDA.

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