Ohio Takes a Step Forward in Ending Animal Testing
After years of advocacy, Ohio is making progress toward reducing and eventually replacing animal testing in research labs — and Ohio Animal Advocates’ Executive Director, Vicki Deisner, was featured in a recent Spectrum News interview discussing this important development.
In the segment, Vicki shared how this milestone represents a victory for animal welfare advocates who have long worked to ensure greater transparency and accountability in laboratory research.
“This is a tremendous step forward for Ohio,” Vicki said. “We’ve been pushing for years to bring more awareness to how many animals are used in testing and to promote modern, humane alternatives. This change shows that progress is possible when science and compassion come together.”
What’s Changing
According to the report, Ohio’s animal welfare community is celebrating new measures that will bring greater oversight to animal research, encouraging institutions to:
Reevaluate how animals are used in experiments,
Reduce unnecessary suffering, and
Transition toward non-animal testing alternatives such as cell cultures, computer modeling, and organ-on-a-chip systems.
These changes align with a growing national shift. Earlier this year, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced plans to phase out funding for dog and cat testing, reinforcing the momentum toward cruelty-free science.
Why It Matters
Animal testing has long been a controversial issue. While some research has relied on animals to study diseases and develop treatments, modern science now offers humane, more accurate alternatives. These new technologies not only spare animals from pain and distress but also produce data that’s often more relevant to human biology.
By adopting non-animal testing methods, Ohio joins a nationwide movement redefining what responsible science looks like — one that values innovation, accuracy, and compassion in equal measure.
Take Action: Support Federal Reform
OAA continues to advocate for federal legislation that builds on this progress. You can support efforts to replace and reduce animal testing by urging Congress to pass the FDA Modernization 3.0 Act, which promotes advanced, non-animal testing methods.
Together, we can help create a future where lifesaving research never comes at the cost of animal suffering.
Learn More
Watch the full interview with Vicki Deisner and Spectrum News’ Mindy Drayer here. For updates on OAA’s advocacy work, visit our Action Alerts page or sign up for our newsletter.
Source: Spectrum News
