The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently released a Request for Information (RFI NOT-OD-26-047) seeking public input on the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2027–2031. This strategic plan will help shape NIH research priorities, funding direction, infrastructure investments, and operational policies for the next five years.
The RFI is organized around three major priorities:
- Research Areas
- Research Capacity
- Research Operations
NAVS submitted comments urging NIH to modernize the biomedical research enterprise by prioritizing human-relevant science and reducing reliance on outdated animal-based research models that frequently fail to predict human health outcomes.
Across all three sections, NAVS emphasized that:
- Human biological relevance should become a central standard of scientific excellence
- NIH should increase investment in non-animal methods, including organoids, microphysiological systems, computational modeling, and other advanced human-based technologies
- Funding and review systems should prioritize predictive value, translational success, and reproducibility over historical precedent
- NIH should improve transparency and accountability regarding animal use and research outcomes
NAVS also encouraged NIH to invest in workforce training, validation systems, and infrastructure that support next-generation research approaches while developing stronger metrics for evaluating scientific performance and translational success.
A central theme of the response was that transitioning toward human-relevant science is not simply an ethical issue, but a scientific and public health imperative. NAVS argued that continued dependence on poorly predictive animal models contributes to inefficiency, rising costs, and delays in delivering effective treatments to patients.
In addition to submitting organizational comments, NAVS is encouraging members of its Scientific Advisory Board to submit individual comments reinforcing the importance of modernizing biomedical research and advancing more predictive, human-centered science.
As part of our strategy in policy and advocacy, NAVS will ensure that our voice is heard at every opportunity. By submitting comments directly to the body that creates the direction in which domestic research heads, NAVS is positioning human-relevant, innovative science at the forefront.
To learn more about NAVS’ work in advocacy and policy, click here.
