The Indian government through its Ministry of Science & Technology provided a detailed parliamentary response on its initiatives to promote non-animal testing methods in scientific research. The government recognizes that limited availability of validated human-relevant non-animal models affects drug discovery efficiency, increases research costs, and impacts clinical translation outcomes. Multiple research institutions under different ministries are actively working to address this gap.
ICMR has supported 109 research projects in non-animal testing methods including organ-on-chip, three-dimensional tissue models, and computer-based approaches, implemented across 71 institutes throughout the country. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research reports that eight of its laboratories have capabilities in New Approach Methodologies including advanced in-vitro systems, cell-based systems, 3D tissue models/organoids, organ-on-chip platforms, and in-silico approaches.
The Department of Biotechnology's autonomous institutions engaged in medical research are equipped with advanced infrastructure for developing and validating non-animal methods. Specifically, BRIC-Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine (inStem) at Bengaluru has dedicated infrastructure including cell culture facilities, organoids, 2D/3D cultures, micro-physiological systems (organ-on-a-chip), bioreactors, high throughput screening, automation, and computational resources. inStem has established institutional programs such as Programme in Women's Reproductive Health and Platform Enabling Stem Cell and Organoid Research and Training to develop expertise in this area. The institution is also developing early embryonic models to test developmental toxicity of drug candidates in vitro, eliminating animal use.
Another institution, BRIC-Translational Health Science & Technology Institute at Faridabad, has developed an organoid platform for drug screening, disease modelling, and therapeutics development for liver diseases as an alternative to animal experiments. Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council supports the Centre for Predictive Human Model Systems at Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, which develops human-relevant non-animal testing platforms including organoids and stem cell-based models.
The government continues to support research and innovation through DBT's Medical Directorate and BIRAC, which funds projects developing non-animal models such as lung-on-chip platforms for monoclonal antibody assessment and lab-on-chip devices mimicking human kidney function. BIRAC has announced focused calls for proposals on "Establishment of Preclinical Models for Drug Discovery" to fund development of organoids, organ-on-chip platforms, and other innovative in vitro approaches. inStem conducts frequent stem cell workshops to train researchers nationwide, while the Centre for Predictive Human Model Systems maintains a publicly accessible database mapping researchers across India working on human-relevant systems including organoids, organs-on-chip, and 3D tissues.