The National Institutes of Health announced on June 15, 2026, that it has established the Office of Research Innovation, Validation, and Application to accelerate the development and adoption of human-based research tools. Known as ORIVA, the new office will coordinate efforts across the agency to develop, validate, and scale animal-free research techniques, according to NIH.
These tools, collectively termed New Approach Methodologies, include 3D human tissue models and advanced computational programs designed to reflect human biology more accurately than traditional animal models. NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya said complex computational tools and tissue models have improved significantly in recent years and may hold the key to a more effective research enterprise. While animal models historically helped advance scientific understanding and supported treatment safety, biological differences between animals and humans can limit how well animal test data translates to human health.
Office Structure and Regulatory Translation
ORIVA will operate through two distinct divisions to address both research development and regulatory adoption. One division will focus on creating new funding opportunities, training resources, and research infrastructure for scientists. The other division will manage a multi-agency effort aimed at evaluating and facilitating the formal acceptance of these new testing methods.
Nicole Kleinstreuer, the NIH deputy director for Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives, stated that the agency aims to assess where animal use can be reduced or eliminated while creating systemic change across the scientific landscape.
The new office is housed within the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives inside the NIH Office of the Director. As a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH comprises 27 Institutes and Centers that conduct and support basic, clinical, and translational medical research.
