NIH invests $88 million in human-based research facilities

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced an $88 million investment across 10 construction projects in nine states to develop research facilities focused on human biology-based methods rather than animal models. These projects aim to address chronic diseases, cancer, obesity, environmental health, and rare childhood diseases.

As part of a broader Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiative, the NIH is also considering a proposal to publish an annual public count of live vertebrate animals used in NIH-funded laboratories to increase transparency. This follows a recent FDA rule clarifying that non-animal safety data may be used where appropriate in research.

Additionally, the NIH has launched a $7 million challenge to incentivize the development of quantum-based sensors for lab tools, such as organ-on-a-chip devices, and plans to establish an automated human biology laboratory at the NIH Clinical Center.