The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced five major initiatives intended to strengthen the infrastructure, technology, and expertise supporting human-based biomedical research.
Announced on September 21, 2026, the initiatives represent what NIH describes as its largest effort yet to move biomedical research beyond reliance on animal models. The goal is to provide researchers with tools that better reflect human biology and can produce more predictive, clinically relevant results.
The announcement is another important indication that New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), including organ-on-chip technology, organoids, advanced sensing, and computational models, are becoming a larger part of the preclinical research landscape.
A Major Push Toward Human-Relevant Research
The new NIH initiatives include:
- More than $88 million for 10 biomedical research infrastructure projects across nine states
- The Qu-SAFE Challenge, offering more than $7 million for quantum-enabled sensing technologies designed for predictive preclinical NAMs
- A new Bio Genesis Autonomous Human Biology Laboratory at the NIH Clinical Center
- Recruitment of grant reviewers with expertise in human-based research
- A request for information concerning greater transparency around the use of vertebrate animals in NIH-funded research
The $88 million in infrastructure funding will support research involving chronic disease, environmental health, rare childhood diseases, cancer, obesity, and metabolic dysfunction.
Through the Qu-SAFE Challenge, NIH is also seeking new sensing systems that can improve the measurement of biological signals within laboratory-based NAMs. NIH specifically identifies organ-on-chip devices as one example of the human-relevant systems that could benefit from these technologies.
The planned Bio Genesis laboratory will combine standardized human organoid models with robotics, artificial intelligence, and advanced data capabilities. This closed-loop research environment is intended to make experiments using human biological systems more reproducible while accelerating the translation of laboratory findings.
Together, these initiatives address more than individual research projects. They begin building the infrastructure, measurement capabilities, expertise, and review processes needed to support broader adoption of human-based research methods.
Why Human-Based Models Matter
Animal models continue to play an important role in biomedical research. However, biological differences between animals and humans can limit how accurately animal studies predict human responses.
Traditional two-dimensional cell cultures also have limitations. Cells grown on a flat surface do not fully reproduce the three-dimensional structures, tissue barriers, circulation, chemical gradients, and interactions among cell types found in the human body.
Human-based models can help researchers investigate these biological processes under more physiologically relevant laboratory conditions. These approaches include:
- Organoids and spheroids
- Organ-on-chip and other microphysiological systems
- Human tissue models
- Advanced imaging and sensing technologies
- Computational and artificial intelligence-based models
Rather than representing a single replacement for every existing research method, these technologies give scientists additional tools for selecting models appropriate to a particular research question.
The Role of Organ-on-Chip Technology
Organ-on-chip systems combine living human cells with microfluidic biochips and controlled flow conditions. The resulting models can reproduce selected functions and physiological responses of human organs and tissues on a small scale.
Depending on the model, researchers may be able to incorporate features such as:
- Human tissue barriers
- Vascularization and organ-specific perfusion
- Immune cells
- Oxygen and nutrient gradients
- Microbiomes or pathogens
- Multiple interacting tissue types
These capabilities can support applications including drug development, safety and toxicity testing, disease modeling, transport studies, infection research, and the investigation of immune responses.
Dynamic42’s DynamicOrgan® platform allows researchers to establish immunocompetent organ-on-chip models or develop models for their own research applications. Available models include liver-on-chip, gut-on-chip, lung-on-chip, vasculature-on-chip, spheroid-on-chip, and cancer-on-chip systems.
The open platform is designed to integrate with standard laboratory workflows. Researchers can introduce different human cell sources, establish perfused tissue barriers, incorporate immune components, and collect samples throughout an experiment.
Dynamic42 also offers an O2-Sensor System developed in collaboration with PyroScience. Integrated optical sensors enable real-time, contactless measurement of oxygen levels and oxygen consumption within compatible organ-on-chip models. This type of measurement capability is particularly relevant as NIH looks for technologies that can capture biological signals and improve the predictive value of human-based preclinical systems.
What the NIH Initiatives Mean for Researchers
The NIH announcement does not mean that animal studies will disappear immediately. NIH explicitly recognizes that animal models remain important to biomedical discovery.
It does, however, signal growing institutional support for expanding the availability, sophistication, and scientific evaluation of human-based research methods.
For laboratories considering organ-on-chip technology, this is a good time to evaluate where a human-relevant model could complement an existing workflow. Potential starting points include:
- Identifying research questions that are difficult to address with conventional cell culture
- Determining which human tissues, barriers, or immune components need to be represented
- Evaluating whether perfusion or real-time sensing would improve the study design
- Considering how organ-on-chip data could complement animal, organoid, or computational studies
- Developing internal expertise through hands-on or online training
As infrastructure and funding continue to develop, laboratories that begin building experience with these systems will be better prepared to incorporate human-based methods into future research programs.
Explore Organ-on-Chip Research with Ohio Lumex
Ohio Lumex is the exclusive U.S. and Canadian distributor of Dynamic42 organ-on-chip systems. Our Life Sciences team can help researchers explore the DynamicOrgan® platform, available biochips and kits, integrated oxygen sensing, training resources, and potential model configurations.
Explore Dynamic42 organ-on-chip systems or contact Ohio Lumex to discuss your research application.
Source: NIH Makes Major Investments to Advance Human-Based Research Infrastructure and Technologies
