NIH Formally Launches Office of Research Innovation, Validation, and Application

By: Galen Cobb
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) formally launched the Office of Research Innovation, Validation, and Application (ORIVA), which is tasked with coordinating NIH-wide efforts to develop, validate, and scale New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) and human-based methodologies. Housed within the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI) in the NIH Office of the Director, ORIVA is composed of two divisions: the Division for Accelerating Innovation in Biomedical Research (DAIBR) and the Division of the National Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Test Methods (D-NICEATM). DAIBR will lead NIH extramural investment in NAMs, overseeing new funding opportunities and community outreach to advance human-based research technologies. D-NICEATM, formerly part of the National Toxicology Program as NICEATM, will continue to serve as a hub for interagency coordination, driving efforts in the evaluation and acceptance of NAMs.

Much of the content on the new ORIVA website reiterates information from earlier announcements about the office. One notable addition is a description of an evaluation criterion to assess research methods in new funding applications based on suitability for the research question, context of use, translatability, and human relevance. No details were provided, however, on when and how this criterion will be applied.

FASEB has previously written to NIH Director Jayanta Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, requesting opportunities for stakeholder feedback on the rollout of ORIVA initiatives, and will continue to monitor developments as ORIVA becomes operational.