Janine McCarthy, MPH

Janine McCarthy, MPH, is the science policy program manager at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit organization of physicians and advocates dedicated to promoting preventive medicine, conducting clinical research, and advancing ethical and effective practices in research and medical training.

In her role, Ms. McCarthy leads the organization’s initiatives to enhance research integrity and foster greater trust within the scientific community. She collaborates with scientific journals, reviewers, ethics committees, sponsors, and researchers to support transparent and responsible research practices and the development of strong ethical policies that help prevent misconduct.

She has also launched the Human Advanced In Vitro Initiative (HUMAIN), an award program to support scientists in advancing human-specific research and testing. The program supports exemplary studies that replace the use of animals with modern, nonanimal methods and encourages broader adoption of these approaches across the research community.

Ms. McCarthy plays a key role in the Physicians Committee’s policy efforts to replace the use of animals in medical research. Working collaboratively with the team, she helps develop and implement strategic initiatives that address the scientific and regulatory barriers to adopting nonanimal methods. She contributes to the development of legislative and policy proposals, engages with key stakeholders—including policymakers, federal agencies, and scientific organizations—and advocates for research practices that are ethically and scientifically sound.

With a strong foundation in public health and a passion for innovative science, Ms. McCarthy is committed to driving systemic change that prioritizes human health and the replacement of animal-based research. Before joining the Physicians Committee, she worked at the New York State Department of Health in both the Center for Community Health and the Center for Environmental Health.

Read more about Ms. McCarthy’s latest work:

McCarthy J, Bailey J, Baron R, et al. Creating training opportunities in new approach methodologies for early-career researchers. NAM Journal. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.namjnl.2025.100006

Krebs CE, McCarthy J, Sullivan K, et al. Considering the Risks and Costs of Solid Organ Xenotransplantation. Advanced Biology. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1002/adbi.202400453

McCarthy J, Herrmann K, Sullivan K, et al. Summer school on innovative approaches in science. ALTEX. 2021;38(1):158-162. https://doi.org/10.14573/altex.2012153

Pistollato F, Bernasconi C, McCarthy J, et al. Alzheimer’s disease, and breast and prostate cancer research: Translational failures and the importance to monitor outputs and impact of funded research. Animals. 2020. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071194

McCarthy J, LeCluyse E, Presnell S, et al. Increasing the availability of quality human tissue for research. ALTEX. 2020. https://doi.org/10.14573/altex.2007141