Björn Brembs
@brembs@mastodon.social  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago

More anti-science at the US funding agencies.

“the #NIH will no longer seek proposals exclusively for animal models."
Slide at 2:48 (NIH section starting at 2:38).

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-meetings-conferences-and-workshops/fda-nih-workshop-reducing-animal-testing-07072025

Apparently, hallucinating AIs will be sufficient for finding the next drugs, no animal tests necessary. Given the history of human testing in the US, I think it's quite clear which populations will get the newly discovered drugs first...

#science #pseudoscience#USpol
El Duvelle
@elduvelle@neuromatch.social replied  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago
@brembs I believe this is just about some targeted funding schemes ("Notice of Funding Opportunities"), not about de-funding any animal-research project.

Some more info here:
https://grants.nih.gov/news-events/nih-extramural-nexus-news/2025/07/nih-funding-announcements-to-align-with-nih-initiative-to-prioritize-human-based-research

It's still completely misinformed and counterproductive but shouldn't have effects that are as widespread as it originally looks..

(We have discussed this in the ScientistsforScience slack, lmk in DM if anyone wants to join!)
Björn Brembs
@brembs@mastodon.social replied  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago
@elduvelle

Well. the person giving the presentation didn't make it sounds that way.
I also got the link from somone who clearly also understood it as a complete stop for all animal research.
Finally, this is exactly the kind of BS RFK would like, so it fits that part, too.

I'm a person that likes, if possible, to prepare for the worst and then be happy when it doesn't happen...