The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has established the Office of Research Innovation, Validation, and Application (ORIVA) to accelerate the development and adoption of human-based research technologies across the institution. This new office aims to coordinate NIH-wide efforts to advance New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), including 3D human tissue models and computational tools, which offer animal-free methods that better reflect human biology.
ORIVA will also serve as a central hub for interagency coordination and regulatory translation. NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D., said, "Complex computational models, 3D human tissue models, and other emerging technologies have improved by leaps and bounds in recent years and may hold the key to a more effective research enterprise." He added that NIH aims to steer biomedical research in this direction by strategically capitalizing on these tools.
While traditional animal models have been crucial, their translation to human biology can be limited. NAMs provide researchers with more replicable, translatable, and efficient tools for studying human health and disease, simultaneously reducing or replacing animal use where appropriate.
Housed within the NIH Office of the Director, ORIVA will pursue a two-pronged strategy. One division will foster innovation through new funding, infrastructure, and training, while the other will coordinate multi-agency efforts to evaluate and accept new research methods. Nicole Kleinstreuer, Ph.D., NIH Deputy Director for Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives, said, "The goal of ORIVA is to create systemic change, enacting a foundational shift across the scientific landscape that will translate to better human health."