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.”
Image by aislan13
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.”
Guest Blog: 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.”
Highlights from the Animal Law Conference in Portland, Oregon
By Paul Locke, Rebecca Critser and Zachary Liebowitz | November 14th, 2024
“The growing body of research indicating the cognitive and emotional capacities of animals has spurred increased interest in their welfare and rights.”
Fifth Circuit Upholds Free Speech Rights of Animal Activist on NIH Social Media Platform
By Rebecca Critser, Zachary Liebowitz and Shannon Dixon | October 31st 2024
“This recent DC Circuit decision highlights the complexity of balancing free speech with content moderation in the context of government sponsored animal testing.”
Guest Blog: Swiss Court Prohibits Zebra Finch Experiment
By Katerina Stoykova and Nicole Lüthi | October 17th 2024
“The harm-benefit analysis is a legal requirement under Swiss experimentation law, stipulating that animal experiments are only allowed if the anticipated benefits outweigh the stress inflicted on the animals. The more severe the stress caused by an experiment, the greater the expected benefit must be to justify it.”
One Health: A Unified Approach to Protecting the Health of People, Animals, and the Planet
By Zachary Liebowitz | October 3rd 2024
“By recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, One Health not only provides a roadmap for more effective disease prevention and health promotion but also helps build a more sustainable and resilient future for all species.”
Miniature Organs, Maximum Benefits: Tissue Chips in Space
By Loze Taye | September 19th 2024
“While tissue chips have already shown great promise in advancing biomedical research here on Earth, their potential in space exploration is equally groundbreaking.”
Regulation Updates in China
By Yiguang Zhu and Zachary Leibowitz | August 22nd, 2024
“A wave of regulatory updates in China is reshaping the landscape of the field of animal testing, challenging long-standing practices and opening doors to innovative non-animal alternatives.”
One Year Anniversary of the Tox Blog
By Loza Taye | August 22nd, 2024
“We aim to promote better science and support the transition towards more humane and effective methods by covering legislative developments, innovative research techniques, and legal considerations…”
Is Raising Genetically Modified Pigs A Way to Solve the Organ Transplant Shortage?
By Breanne Kincaid and Rebecca Critser | August 8th, 2024
“Given the public health risks, welfare concerns, and relative ease with which human organ procurement solutions can be implemented, is a multi-billion dollar investment in the research and infrastructure required to make gene-edited pig organs necessary or appropriate?”
Meeting the Requirements of the AWA Workshop Recap
By Loza Taye | July 25th, 2024
“...AWIC hosted a workshop to promote successful research planning that meets the AWA requirements. Key takeaways from this event included the importance of early planning, cost considerations, effective search strategies, cultivating empathy, embracing progress, and enhancing proficiency in alternatives research.”
MPS World Summit 2024 Recap
By Breanne Kincaid & Yiguang Zhu | July 11th, 2024
“In attending the MPS World Summit and other conferences and webinars, it is increasingly clear that MPS developers and end-users would all benefit from clearly enumerated regulatory requirements describing what benchmarks must be met in order for MPS data to be accepted for particular use contexts.”