News

• On April 10, 2025, FDA released their " Roadmap to Reducing Animal Testing in Preclinical Safety Studies." This roadmap outlines a strategic, stepwise approach for FDA to reduce animal testing in preclinical safety studies with scientifically validated new approach methodologies (NAMs). In recent years, FDA has been working on incorporating NAMS into the regulatory framework, focusing on development and qualification within a specific context of use. In response NABR President Matthew R. Bailey said. “But no AI model or simulation has yet demonstrated the ability to fully replicate all the unknowns about many full biological systems. That’s why humane animal research remains indispensable.” So far NABR’s statement has been picked up by: Reuters, the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS)’ Regulatory Focus™, STAT, Fierce Biotech, The Epoch Times, Fox News, Life Science Sweden, The Daily Guardian, Hindustan Times, The Telegraph India, and The Times of India.  statement, the animal rights group Rise for Animals released their own statementtargeting NABR and the animal research industry as a whole.
• On April 17, 2025, FDA issued a press release noting a new Policy on Individuals Serving on FDA Advisory Committees. The policy limits employees of FDA-regulated companies from serving as official members on FDA advisory committees, where statutorily allowed. NABRs response: “We all want better and faster ways to bring lifesaving treatments to patients,”
• Internal budget document reveals extent of Trump’s proposed health cuts-The Trump administration is seeking to deeply slash budgets for federal health programs, a roughly one-third cut in discretionary spending by the Department of Health and Human Services, according to a preliminary budget document obtained by The Washington Post. The HHS budget draft, known as a “passback,” offers the first full look at the health and social service priorities of President Donald Trump’s Office of Management and Budget as it prepares to send his 2026 fiscal year budget request to Congress. It shows how the Trump administration plans to reshape the federal health agencies that oversee food and drug safety, manage the nation’s response to infectious-disease threats and drive biomedical research.  Read More at the Washington Post.
• How Trump 2.0 is slashing NIH-backed research — in charts -The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has terminatednearly 800 research projects at a breakneck pace, wiping out significant chunks of funding to entire scientific fields, finds a Nature analysis of the unprecedented cuts.  The administration of US President Donald Trump began purging NIH-funded studies on topics that it deems problematic less than 50 days ago, continuously expanding its list to include research on topics ranging from COVID-19 to misinformation. Hundreds of the 30,000-plus scientists funded by the NIH yearly have been forced to halt their work after receiving notices that their research “no longer effectuates agency priorities”, and some have had to fire personnel or even shut down their laboratories. Read More at   The New York Academy of Sciences has just released a Global Researcher Sentiment Snapshot for 2025. Please follow this link to share how recent changes to U.S. federal aid for scientific research may impact you.
• Prosecutor Sends Letters to Medical Journals Alleging Bias- A federal prosecutor has sent letters to at least three medical journals accusing them of political bias and asking a series of probing questions suggesting that the journals mislead readers, suppress opposing viewpoints and are inappropriately swayed by their funders. The letters were signed by Edward Martin Jr., a Republican activist serving as interim U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. He has been criticized for using his office to target opponents of President Trump. Some scientists and doctors said they viewed the letters as a threat from the Trump administration that could have a chilling effect on what journals publish. The health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has said he wants to prosecute medical journals, accusing them of lying to the public and colluding with pharmaceutical companies.  Read More at the New York Times.
• Council of Councils Meeting Recap – NIH Director Addresses Animal Research and a New Working Group Announced. The NIH Council of Councils convened on Monday (April 21) under the leadership of Dr. Nicole Kleinstreuer, the Acting Chair and former lead of ICCVAM. The most significant highlight of the meeting was NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya’s remarks and Q&A with council members. Dr. Bhattacharya vowed to advance the agency’s mission—including regular meeting schedules and staff hirings—and reaffirmed his commitment to prioritize the health of the American people. The Council proposed and approved a new Science of Science Working Group. The working group will focus on strategies to ensure that NIH is funding the best science, supporting more breakthrough research, and speeding up discovery and interventions. We should anticipate AR groups like PCRM/COLAAB and PETA/SAO (its policy division) actively participating, trying to recommend that the best way to fulfill the working group’s charge is to shift away from animal studies.
• ­­“World Week for Animals in Laboratories” (WW4AIL)-World Day for Animals in Laboratories was observed April 20–27. Originally conceived as an international day of commemoration for animals used in research, it now serves as a focal point for coordinated protests, webinars, and digital campaigns aimed at “speaking up for the millions of animals trapped and tortured in laboratories.”

On the Hill

• McCollum (MN-4) Reintroduces Cold-blooded Animal Research and Exhibition (CARE) Act. On Monday (April 21), Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota reintroduced the Cold-blooded Animal Research and Exhibition (CARE) Act. This bill would amend the definition of “animal” under the Animal Welfare Act to ensure that federal laws and regulations for animals are extended to all cold-blooded animals, including cephalopods, fish, reptiles, and amphibians. While the bill text is not yet available, it’s highly likely it will look similar to last year’s version (available here). Last year, this bill was specifically supported by the Animal Welfare Institute and Humane World for Animals (formerly HSUS), but failed to gain any traction or co-sponsors. AMP will continue to monitor, especially since groups like PCRM have also signaled interest in reopening the definition of animal under the AWA to include mice and rats.
• Ernst Introduces Bills Aimed at Federally Funded Research Abroad  
  On April 15, 2025, Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced two bills aimed at providing transparency for taxpayer funded research abroad. These bills are the Accountability in Foreign Animal Research (AFAR) Act and the Tracking Receipts to Adversarial Countries for Knowledge of Spending (TRACKS) Act. Both bills are supported and lobbied by the White Coat Waste Project (WCW).

The AFAR Act would:

• prohibits the use of taxpayer dollars to support animal experimentation in the laboratories of adversarial nations.
• Nations of concern are determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in consultation with the Secretary of State, and Secretary of Defense for purposes of this Act.
• Additional information is available here.

The TRACKS Act would:

• track taxpayer dollars sent to adversarial countries and foreign entities of concern, and for other purposes.
• ​Additional information is available here.

State legislation

• Michigan Senate Introduces SB 223 Regarding Annual Reporting. Late last week, the Michigan State Senate introduced Senate Bill 223 that updates current legislation governing the licensing and oversight of dealers and research facilities that work with dogs and cats in laboratory research. Specifically, it revises Section 11a to mandate that research facilities submit an annual report to the department by March 31. This report must detail the total number of animals the facility owns, uses in research, and releases, replacing the previous requirement of a compliance attestation.
• Colorado Passes Research Dog and Cat Adoption/Reporting Bill-Recently, the Colorado House and Senate passed an animal research adoption bill (SB085), which requires health-related research facilities to offer dogs and cats in biomedical research studies for adoption before euthanasia unless euthanasia is required for research, health, or safety reasons.
  • In addition, this bill requires health-related research facilities that work with dogs and cats in animal research to submit an annual report to the Colorado Department of Agriculture to include the total number of dogs and cats:
  • Transferred to an animal shelter or pet animal rescue for the purpose of adoption
  • Adopted out through an internal adoption program
  • The facilities must also report the name and address of each animal shelter or animal rescue to which the health-related research facility transferred a dog or cat for the purpose of adoption.
  • A health-related research facility with an internal adoption program shall not report any personal identifying information about an individual internal adopter. 
  • This bill was amended to remove a previous provision requiring health-related research facilities to disclose the number of dogs and cats housed for research at their facility.
  • The bill now awaits Gov. Jared Polis’ signature to become law.
• Oregon Senate Passes “Fluffy and Fido” Bill (SB 181), Moves to House. Also late last week, the Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 181, nicknamed the "Fluffy and Fido" bill, that would ban public funding of “medically unnecessary” research with dogs or cats classified under USDA pain categories D or E. Clinical veterinary research is exempt, and “medically unnecessary” is defined as any research that does not directly improve the health, welfare, or safety of the animal. The state senator who introduced the bill stated in a local newspaper article that he proposed the bill after meeting with WCW. The bill moves to the House for consideration.