A Pilot Approach To Replicating Research: The NIH Common Fund’s Replication to Enhance Research Impact Initiative Provides Funding To Support Research Replication Activities

October 29, 2024

This summer, the NIH Office of Strategic Coordination launched the new Replication to Enhance Research Impact Initiative, a pilot approach to advance rigor and transparency in biomedical research by supporting the direct third-party replication of NIH-funded studies. Through the new Replication Initiative, we aim to test whether direct replication of selected research studies is a fruitful approach to enhancing research reproducibility, and if yes, for what types of studies, and under what circumstances.

NIH Director Statement on Catalyzing the Development of Novel Alternative Methods

February 9, 2024

Last week, Dr. Monica Bertagnolli accepted recommendations from the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director on considering approaches that use novel alternative methods in biomedical and behavioral research. This is an exciting step in our ongoing efforts to support research that complements traditional models when scientifically feasible.

Feedback Sought on Cephalopod Care and Use

September 20, 2023

Earlier this month, we released a Request for Information seeking public input on the humane care and use of laboratory cephalopods at Assured institutions. The proposed guidance acknowledges the evidence suggesting these animals would benefit from oversight, but also that there are not yet specific care and use standards to allow them to be regulated under the Public Health Service Policy for the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

Take Advantage of Our Many Resources for Enhancing the Rigor of Animal Research

February 10, 2023

The Advisory Committee to the NIH Director recommended ways for NIH to improve the rigor, reproducibility, and translatability of the research we support involving animal models. I updated the ACD this past June on our implementation of their recommendations. Here, in lieu of going through each of the report’s five themes, I will highlight some approaches raised during the meeting in response to their recommendations.