Monday, June 15, 2026

NIH launches new office to advance human-based research and reduce animal use

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) today announced the creation of the Office of Research Innovation, Validation, and Application, or ORIVA, to speed the development and use of human-based research technologies across NIH.

ORIVA will coordinate NIH-wide efforts to develop, validate and scale New Approach Methodologies, or NAMs, including 3D human tissue models, computational tools and other animal-free methods that can better reflect human biology. The office will also serve as a hub for interagency coordination and regulatory translation.

“Complex computational models, 3D human tissue models, and other emerging technologies have improved by leaps and bounds in recent years and may hold the key to a more effective research enterprise,” said NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D. “By strategically capitalizing on these tools and encouraging further innovation, NIH aims to steer biomedical research in this direction.”  

Traditional animal models have helped advance scientific knowledge and supported the development of safe and effective treatments. However, differences between animals and humans can limit how well animal data translate to human biology. NAMs give researchers more tools to study human health and disease in ways that can be replicable, translatable and efficient, while reducing or replacing animal use where appropriate.

Housed in the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI) in the NIH Office of the Director (OD), ORIVA will take a two-pronged approach. One division will support innovations in the research community by developing new funding opportunities, research infrastructure, and training resources. The other will coordinate a multi-agency effort to facilitate the evaluation and acceptance of new research methods. 

“NIH is committed to accelerating innovation and transparently assessing where animal use can be reduced or eliminated by transitioning to NAMs,” said Nicole Kleinstreuer, Ph.D, NIH Deputy Director for Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives. “The goal of ORIVA is to create systemic change, enacting a foundational shift across the scientific landscape that will translate to better human health.” 

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

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