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Colleagues,</p>
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As many of you know, biomedical science in the US has recently been challenging.</p>
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The NIH just announced an intent to move away from “outdated animal models” towards research in humans (human subjects, human cells, etc) and other non-animal models (NAMs) such as computer simulation. </p>
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Importantly, we have a short window to provide comment. <b>DUE by July 14 2025</b></p>
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<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-meetings-conferences-and-workshops/fda-nih-workshop-reducing-animal-testing-07072025" title="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-meetings-conferences-and-workshops/fda-nih-workshop-reducing-animal-testing-07072025" data-outlook-id="cf4a8214-0576-4893-b551-d90297391785" style="color: rgb(150, 96, 125);">https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-meetings-conferences-and-workshops/fda-nih-workshop-reducing-animal-testing-07072025</a></p>
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There is a video of the entire workshop – the NIH relevant part is at the 2hr38min mark. Comment box is at the bottom.</p>
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Also Xenbase has put up a nice page with Carol’s editorials on the importance of animal research.</p>
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<a href="https://www.xenbase.org/xenbase/doNewsRead.do?id=1021" title="https://www.xenbase.org/xenbase/doNewsRead.do?id=1021" data-outlook-id="eb32a0af-7b3d-46c3-a743-cd7c7c35b1b7" style="color: rgb(150, 96, 125);">https://www.xenbase.org/xenbase/doNewsRead.do?id=1021</a></p>
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<b><u>Please</u></b> we strongly encourage you to provide comments. Also more comments is better as that are likely to have a larger impact.</p>
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One major challenge is that the specifics of such a policy are not clear. Carol and I just met with NICHD staff, and they have an “optimistic” view but can’t answer any of our specific questions – they just don’t know. So providing these comments to the link
above are important. We can make a difference by highlighting the terrible impact to biomedical science if animal models are no longer pursued.</p>
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Mustafa Khokha, International Xenopus Board, President</p>
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Carol LaBonne, SDB President</p>
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