Chapter 12 - Overcoming inertia against nonanimal research and testing in the United States

The emerging developments in the United States signal a growing shift toward human-focused, nonanimal research and testing. This is true in Congress, in academic research centers, at agencies like the National Institutes of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Food and Drug Administration, as well as in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and chemical industries. However, systemic barriers remain, characterized by institutional inertia that inhibits change and upholds the status quo of animal use. In this chapter, we characterize this inertia as it relates to the science, policy, and training contexts. We describe various stakeholders and where and how they can apply pressure toward change, providing a comprehensive set of recommendations that will improve translatability and foster a more effective health research enterprise.