VoxCell Supports NIH Ending Funding for Animal-Only Studies
- Asees Kaur
- Jul 7
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 21
Washington, July 2025 - In a landmark move, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced it will no longer fund research proposals that rely exclusively on animal models. The news was shared during a groundbreaking FDA-NIH hybrid workshop on July 7, co-hosted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and attended by global regulatory leaders. This decision signals a major shift toward human-relevant, non-animal methodologies, a change that directly aligns with VoxCell’s mission and platform.
The workshop opened with a powerful call to action from FDA Commissioner Dr. Martin A. Makary, who underscored three key motivations behind this shift:
Accelerating access to effective treatments
Reducing drug development costs
Embracing more humane, ethical approaches
"This workshop is about reducing animal testing in every way we can while safeguarding public health"
Dr. Martin A. Makary, FDA Commissioner
The NIH’s updated funding policy builds on a commitment made earlier this year by NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to prioritize human biology over traditional animal models.
The NIH is “very well placed to move away from animal-based models.”
Dr. Nicole Kleinstreuer, Deputy Director at NIH
Why Animal Models Are No Longer Enough
The transition away from animal-only research is both ethically urgent and scientifically justified. Despite decades of reliance on animal testing, up to 90% of drugs that pass preclinical testing fail in human trials, due to poor translatability between species. Differences in immune responses, stress levels, and biology between animals and humans result in misleading data, slowing progress in developing effective therapies.
New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) offer an alternative path forward. These include:
Microphysiological systems (organoids, organ-on-a-chip, 3D bioprinted tissues)
In silico models (computational simulations and AI-driven predictions)
These approaches are not only more predictive and cost-effective, but also eliminate ethical concerns tied to animal suffering.
Key Takeaways from the FDA-NIH Workshop
1. A Unified Regulatory Front
The workshop set the tone for an unprecedented level of collaboration between the FDA, NIH, and international regulators. Dr. Martin A. Makary, FDA Commissioner, outlined three driving forces behind the shift:
Accelerating access to effective treatments
Reducing drug development costs
Promoting more humane and ethical research practices
This collective commitment marks the beginning of a coordinated global roadmap for the development, validation, and adoption of human-relevant, non-animal testing methods.
2. NIH Turns Policy into Progress
Beyond announcing the end of animal-only research funding, the NIH introduced a structural investment in the future of nonanimal methods:
ORIVA (Office of Research Innovation, Validation, and Application): A new NIH office dedicated to advancing and scaling non-animal approaches.
CAMERA (Collection of Alternative Methods for Regulatory Application): A centralized, public database of validated human-relevant tools to support regulatory use.
3. Building a Pathway for Regulatory Acceptance
Speakers underscored the importance of standardization and reproducibility. Key regulatory priorities discussed include:
Inter-lab validation and benchmarking NAMs against human biology
Defined contexts-of-use to clarify how methods should be applied and evaluated
Formal qualification pathways, such as the FDA’s ISTAND program, to ensure regulatory credibility and integration
About VoxCell BioInnovation
VoxCell BioInnovation is a leading provider of next-generation in vitro models, powered by our 3D bioprinted, vascularized tissue technology. Our ready-to-perfuse models closely replicate human biology with in vivo–like microvascular networks, enabling nutrient and oxygen delivery, systemic drug distribution, and more predictive therapeutic responses. VoxCell’s end-to-end solution offers researchers and pharmaceutical companies a scalable, ethical alternative to animal testing. Our mission is to reduce reliance on animal models, accelerate preclinical development, and advance more effective therapies for patients.
Want to learn more or collaborate?
Visit our website, connect with us on LinkedIn, or email us at hello@voxcellbio.com.
