On March 13, 2026, the Committee on Animal Research and Ethics (care) led APA advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill, emphasizing the essential role of animal models in advancing ethical science. Through congressional meetings and a site visit to American University’s (AU) bird research laboratory, experts provided policymakers with firsthand evidence of how animal research remains a cornerstone of biomedical and behavioral innovation.
These efforts address a shifting federal landscape. The National Institutes of Health now encourages the integration of nonanimal methods and models (NAMs) and requires stricter justification for animal use, while reaffirming that animal research remains eligible and essential for addressing complex biological questions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has signaled openness to nonanimal data in regulatory submissions while maintaining that animal studies are critical for assessing safety in whole-organism biology. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has officially reinstated its 2035 deadline to eliminate mammalian testing, prioritizing NAMs to transition toward non-animal chemical risk assessments.
The AU tour was led by Colin Saldanha, PhD, professor of neuroscience at American University, and was attended by representatives from care, the National Association for Biomedical Research, and the College on Problems of Drug Dependence. The visit served as an important educational strategy session, during which researchers discussed that while NAMs—such as computational modeling and organ-on-a-chip systems—are expanding, they currently complement rather than replace animal models. Avian models, for example, offer unique insights into brain function and environmental influences that cannot yet be replicated by non-animal methods.
In meetings with the Senate Appropriations Committee and the offices of Senator Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) and Representative Paul Tonko (D-New York), advocates explained that modernization efforts must not undermine the foundations of human health, national competitiveness, or workforce development. Advocates urged federal agencies to continue supporting a full range of scientifically justified methodologies, including animal models.
Congressional offices were receptive to the necessity of responsibly governed animal research. In conjunction with People for Effective and Ethical Research, a coalition in which APA works to support animal research, APA Services will hold additional briefings and legislative visits at the state and federal levels. APA remains committed to engaging with federal agencies to ensure research policies preserve necessary animal studies, encourage the responsible integration of new technologies, and uphold high ethical standards for a competitive U.S. research enterprise.