Transitioning to Human-Centered Science: An Off-Ramp and Transition Plan
By Paul Locke | September 4th, 2025
“For those of us who have been advocating for the development, use and adoption of human centered NAMs, the Roadmap and these announcements are a breath of fresh air. It seems that – finally – the federal government has turned the corner. But talking the talk is not enough. The transition to human centered science and away from animal testing needs an implementation plan …”
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Professional Perspectives: Wisconsin Court Orders Criminal Investigation of Beagle Breeder Ridglan Farms
By Conley Wouters | August 21st, 2025
“Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, Judge Lanford’s opinion highlights evidence of decades of egregious cruelty and immense animal suffering at Ridglan Farms. That alone might catalyze a renewed push for change from those who are working to protect—and eventually replace—animals used in research.”
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From Option to Obligation: The Legal Imperative for NAMs
By Jo Anderson | August 7th, 2025
“Regulatory agencies must move from encouraging NAMs to requiring them where scientifically justified. Once merely regarded as alternatives to animal testing, NAMs have now emerged as a driving force in regulatory science.”
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A Bright Tomorrow for Therapeutic Orphans: The Potential for New Approach Methodologies to Bridge Data Gaps for Pregnant Patients
By Matthew Durthaler | July 24th, 2025
“As caution often precludes pregnant humans from serving as models of their own physiology, various non-human animal models have been employed. While these models have displayed some value, they are severely limited by interspecies variation and thus serve as subpar predictors of gravid human physiology.”
Sonogram captured by Matthew Durthaler, used with permission
Our Tiny Allies in Toxicological Testing Part 2 – Transparent Roundworms as Alternative Models
By Aaradhya Diwan | July 10th, 2025
“There are numerous opportunities for using C. elegans as a model for toxicity testing, thanks to their unique advantages and translational relevance to human health, as demonstrated in applications to neuroscience and developmental biology.”
Image by Zeynep F. Altun
Unveiling IACUC members: Triumph for rule of law and animal welfare or a dangerous precedent? A closer look at P. Poe 5 et al. v University of Washington et al.
By Akosua Dufie and Jo Anderson | June 26th, 2025
“While privacy and transparency appear to be contradictory in this instance, their practical implementation are not mutually exclusive. With a careful balancing strategy, both needs can be accommodated and satisfied.”
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The Silent Strain: Compassion Fatigue in Animal Research Labs
By Shannon Dixon | June 12th, 2025
“Compassion fatigue is not a flaw or a weakness. It is a human response and a natural consequence of empathy.”
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NAMs and the Funding Frontier: How Modern Toxicology Maximizes Scientific Return on Investment
By Zachary Liebowitz | May 29th, 2025
“Funders are not only looking for scientific merit—they are also scrutinizing value and feasibility. NAMs answer all three.”
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From Roadmap to Reality: Validating NAMs for FDA's Plan to Phase Out Animal Testing
By Yiguang Zhu | May 15th, 2025
“The FDA and the broader scientific community recognize NAMs as a means to obtain 'faster and more accurate human risk assessments' while reducing animal use.”
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Professional Perspectives: Guest Blog by Madeline Krasno, Justify Executive Director
By Madeline Krasno | May 1st, 2025
“What does it reveal about an industry that prides itself on rigorous oversight, ethical review processes, and mental health resources when its own workers feel compelled to voice concerns only under total anonymity?”
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Advancing NAMs for Risk Assessment: Perspectives from SOT 2025
By Breanne Kincaid | April 17th, 2025
“Together, these presentations illustrate a clear shift towards integrated, mechanistically informed risk assessment strategies that reduce the number of animals required to generate toxicity data—paving the way for regulatory frameworks that are both scientifically robust and economically sustainable.”
Image by Breanne Kincaid
Organoid’s Potential to Advance Low Dose Research
By Loza Taye | April 3rd, 2025
“Organoids will have an increasingly important role in shaping our understanding of radiation biology and in the development of policies and medical practices concerning radiation exposure.”
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Virginia Looks to Require Consideration for Rehoming Primates Formerly Used in Testing
By Rebecca Critser | March 20th, 2025
“If enacted, Virginia would be the first to require laboratories to consider rehoming for non-human primates used in research and testing.”
Image by Tiki Black
Advancing non-animal science and public health progress in the 119th Congress – going for the win-win
By Dr. Paul Locke | March 6th, 2025
“[R]ather than looking back at past accomplishments, it is better to explore what we need for future success in public health and medicine.”
Image by Mike Gillis
Collaboration Over Competition: Advancing the Use of Microphysiological Systems
By Dr. Anicca Harriot | February 20th, 2025
“Federal agencies have the power to define a clear path that drives MPS forward in to further reducing the use of animal testing.”
Professional Perspectives: Refinement in Animal Research: A Crucial Step Toward Ethical Progress
By Sally Thompson-Iritani | February 6th, 2025
“Incorporating refinements in animal research is not optional—it is essential in modern science. The rapid pace of technological advancements and increased public scrutiny make it imperative to adopt comprehensive refinement strategies.“
Unleashing Innovation: The Business Case for New Approach Methods (NAMs)
By Zachary Liebowitz | January 23rd, 2025
“As we stand on the cusp of a new era in science and industry, the case for NAMs is clear. They are more than a set of tools—they represent a paradigm shift that aligns innovation with ethical responsibility and economic growth.“
The Utility of an Intra-Agency NAM Office
By Breanne Kincaid | January 10th, 2025
“…the FDA’s NAM office represents a strategic evolution in integrating innovative methodologies into regulatory science. While it complements ICCVAM’s mission, its intra-agency focus and regulatory authority position it to drive faster, more context-specific advancements in risk assessment.“
Our Tiny Allies in Toxicological Testing - Zebrafish and their Embryos as Alternative Models
By Aaradhya Diwan | December 19th, 2024
“[Zebrafish] models offer powerful insight for detecting the negative impacts of chemical substances on ecosystem health and human health.”
Accelerating Medical Countermeasure Development through Microphysiological Systems
By Loza Taye | December 5th, 2024
“The DoD should continue to invest in developing and deploying MPS as a solution to the growing challenges of biological and chemical threats. MPS offer an ethical, efficient, timely, and scientifically valid approach to understanding human responses to harmful agents.”