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Testing & Predictive Models

Efficacy & Toxicology

Providing the research community with robust, reliable tools for testing chemical safety and efficacy.

Molecular Targets

Developing new methods to validate potential drug targets efficiently and predictably.

Core Technologies

Using state-of-the-art resources to enable the ongoing operation of all NCATS translational research activities.

Efficacy & Toxicology

Providing the research community with robust, reliable tools for testing chemical safety and efficacy.

Molecular Targets

Developing new methods to validate potential drug targets efficiently and predictably.

Core Technologies

Using state-of-the-art resources to enable the ongoing operation of all NCATS translational research activities.

Work with Us

NCATS preclinical programs and resources focus on key obstacles and inefficiencies in the translational process, overcoming bottlenecks that slow the development of new treatments for patients.

Learn more about how to access NCATS programs and expertise.

Learn more about NCATS’ Achievements in Advancing Translational Sciences.

Drug and Toxicity Testing at NCATS

Predicting the biological effects of drugs, chemicals and interventions is fraught with hazard. Many candidate drugs fail in human clinical trials because they are found to be unsafe or ineffective, despite promising preclinical studies in animal and cell models.

NCATS is developing model systems for drug and toxicity testing that more closely resemble human physiology and more accurately reflect how our bodies will react to an experimental compound. Such advances could save enormous amounts of time and expense by preventing people in clinical studies from being exposed to potentially harmful or ineffective candidate drugs. Scientists also can use these models to study the basic biology of disease, predict toxicity or other physiological processes, and evaluate environmental chemicals. The model systems support NIH’s position that non-animal model approaches can reduce the need for animals in research but will require further improvement to completely replace them.