NIH Announces DPCPSI Changes and Updated OLAW Reporting Guidance

By: Galen Cobb
Thursday, January 22, 2026
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced several developments at the agency, including leadership appointments within the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI), a proposed internal reorganization of DPCPSI, and updated guidance from the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) on prompt reporting.

Nicole Kleinstreuer Appointed DPCPSI Director
Nicole Kleinstreuer, PhD, has been formally appointed as Director of DPCPSI, following her year-long service as Acting Director. DPCPSI coordinates cross-cutting research initiatives across NIH Institutes and Centers and oversees programs related to research infrastructure, workforce development, and policy planning. Dr. Kleinstreuer has led recent agency efforts to advance new approach methodologies (NAMs) and re-evaluate applications of animal models in the NIH research portfolios. 

More information is available in NIH’s announcement.

DPCPSI Reorganization Proposed
NIH has announced a proposed restructuring within DPCPSI, including the creation of two new offices: 

• Office of Research Innovation, Validation, and Application (ORIVA) – ORIVA has been closely tracked by FASEB since it was first announced in April 2025. The office is intended to support the development and use of alternative research approaches, including human-based models and other methods that may reduce reliance on traditional animal studies. ORIVA will house the Division for Accelerating Innovation in Biomedical Research (DAIBR) and the Division of the National Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Test Methods (DNICEATM).
• Office of Research Economics, Planning, and Analysis (OREPA) – This office will focus on NIH-wide research planning, portfolio analysis, performance evaluation, and strategic prioritization. It will incorporate the Office of Planning, Performance, Evaluation, and Reporting (OPPER), the Office of Portfolio Analysis (OPA), and the Office of Replication and Reproducibility (ORR).

The agency is currently accepting public comments on the proposed reorganization through Monday, January 26. Additional details will be discussed at the NIH Council of Councils meeting on January 29, where stakeholders may gain further insight into how these offices will support NIH research infrastructure and cross-cutting programs. More information is available in the reorganization announcement.

OLAW Updates Guidance on Prompt Reporting
NIH’s Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare has issued revised guidance on prompt reporting of noncompliance, serious animal welfare concerns, and other reportable events. The new notice supersedes the 2005 guidance and clarifies what types of incidents must be reported, timelines for initial and follow-up reporting, and expectations for institutional corrective actions.

Institutions are encouraged to review the updated guidance carefully to ensure that internal policies and IACUC procedures meet current NIH expectations. Full details are available in NIH Notice NOT-OD-25-148.