National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing

(a) Addition to list of institutes and centers Section 401(b) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281(b)) is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraph (25) as paragraph (26); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (24) the following new paragraph: (25) The National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing.. (b) Conforming change to number of institutes and centers Section 401(d)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281(d)(1)) is amended by striking 27 and inserting 28. (c) Establishment; duties Part E of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 287 et seq.) is amended by inserting after subpart 5 of such part E (42 U.S.C. 287c–21) the following new subpart: 6 National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing 485E. Establishment; duties (a) Establishment Not later than one year after the date of enactment of the Humane and Existing Alternatives in Research and Testing Sciences Act of 2025, the Secretary shall establish a National Center for Alternatives to Animals in Research and Testing (in this subpart referred to as the National Center) within the National Institutes of Health. The Center shall be headed by a director, who shall be appointed by the Secretary. (b) Purpose The general purpose of the National Center shall be— (1) developing, promoting, and funding alternatives to animal research and testing; and (2) developing a plan for reducing the number of animals used in federally funded research and testing. (c) Duties The Director of the National Center shall— (1) provide assistance (including funding) to federally funded researchers to incentivize the development and qualification of nonanimal methods, such as advanced cell cultures or technology such as 3D organoids, microphysiological systems, induced pluripotent adult stem cell models, in silico modeling, advanced imaging systems, artificial intelligence, and other innovative methods; (2) train and inform scientists about the methods developed pursuant to paragraph (1); (3) establish collaborations among research institutions so that scientists who lack resources (such as bioengineering and advanced bio-imaging equipment) can develop and use methods developed pursuant to paragraph (1); and (4) collect information regarding the numbers of animals used in federally funded research and testing, and make such information available to the public in a timely manner..