Question 1

Why do you have to use monkeys? Why can't you use mice/tissue cultures/AI?

Accepted Answer

The ONPRC is an advocate for new research methods, and monkeys are a last resort. Even then, the IACUC limits the number of animals on study to an absolute minimum. As our close cousins, monkeys can model the way a human body works better than other animals, especially for studies on things like reproductive health. Tissue cultures or computer models are a great starting point, and limit the number of animals on study, but they cannot answer questions about how bodies work as a system, and for this reason the FDA requires that all new drugs be tested in at least two animal models before approval for human trials.

Question 2

Why does the ONPRC need so many monkeys?

Accepted Answer

Having a large breeding colony with a thorough pedigree is essential, both for animal health (avoiding inbreeding) and for diverse genetic studies. If we know the genetic history of an animal, we can carefully track which genes might contribute to a condition like Parkinson's or addiction (which is a disorder, not a moral failing - and something that the ONPRC is trying to treat, as a way to serve Oregon and the rest of the world). Most of the monkeys at the ONPRC are not on any study, and are part of the breeding colony.

Question 3

Doesn't the research industry keep using animals because of money/inertia?

Accepted Answer

No. It continues because it saves lives. Research grants aren’t “profit” like some big pharma companies—they fund jobs, training, and the basic science that goes into building safe treatments/vaccines/therapies for diseases like Alzheimer's. Scientists are under constant pressure to justify animal use, and it’s far easier—not harder—to get funding for non-animal studies. But diseases evolve quickly to escape our immune systems, and the brain's inner workings are too complex to simulate with AI. In fact, closing public research centers like the ONPRC will only ensure that more research is done by private, profit-minded companies, who have less oversight, less transparency, and less accountability to the public.

Question 4

Other countries are banning primate research, why can't the US?

Accepted Answer

Some countries have restricted primate research, but this is a decision based on political pressures, not scientific data. Those countries rely on data from primate research done elsewhere - often the US, including work done at the ONPRC. The legal/ethical restrictions on primate research in the US are some of the most strict in the world, meaning that research done here is safer and better for the animals. Banning primate research in the US wouldn't stop primate research, it would simply outsource it to other countries that do NOT have the same animal welfare and transparency requirements. If you truly care for animal welfare, you should support the US standard for animal care and transparency.

Question 5

Isn't animal research ethically or even spiritually wrong?

Accepted Answer

Compassion is at the heart of many ethical and spiritual traditions. For example, the Dalai Lama, a global voice for nonviolence, has consistently emphasized that animals deserve our care and respect. At the same time, he has acknowledged that when research is conducted with the sincere goal of relieving human suffering—and when no alternatives exist—it may be morally acceptable, though it must always be approached with compassion and humility. Ethical animal research, when done under strict guidelines, is not a violation of compassion—it is an extension of it. It reflects our responsibility to both reduce suffering where we can and to ensure that life-saving discoveries are developed safely and ethically.

Question 6

What regulations govern research with animals?

Accepted Answer

The answer exceeds these character limits! The NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare administers the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (PHS Policy). The Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the USDA is responsible for establishing standards and enforcing the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), a federal law governing the use of animals in research. All USDA inspections are posted publicly on the ONPRC website under 'Animals in Research', in compliance with Oregon law. Internally, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) reviews and limits the animals on each study. The ONPRC is also voluntarily accredited by AAALAC, the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care.

Question 7

Why can't we just do research on prisoners?

Accepted Answer

After WWII, the Nuremburg Trials were held to gather evidence of Nazi crimes, and as a history lesson for the Germans and the world as to what are some of the greatest crimes against humanity - including experimentation on prisoners. Out of those trials came the Nuremberg Code, which deals with ethical research principles for human experimentation. This Code expressly states that experiments should be based on animal experimentation, and prioritizes voluntary consent of the human subject (and ability to revoke that consent) over all else. While the Nuremberg Code is not law, it is an ethical guideline that has informed many laws regarding research internationally. It's concerning that Nazi talking points like this are common 'alternatives' to animal research.

Question 8

Who funds the ONPRC?

Accepted Answer

The ONPRC is funded federally, through the NIH, and receives minimal support from OHSU. Oregon taxpayers do not pay for the center - but this funding is for conducting research, and could not legally be applied towards shutting it down. Closing the center would cost more Oregon tax money that could be spent elsewhere. The ONPRC actually brings money to Oregon, both through top scientists that move here from across the country AND the world, and through the money it spends locally. The ONPRC has many long-standing relationships with local, family owned businesses, and spends millions of dollars each year. Losing this money would tear a hole in the local economy, affecting hundreds of jobs not only at the ONPRC, but elsewhere in Beaverton and Portland.

Question 9

What if I have more questions?

Accepted Answer

Having lots of questions is a good thing! Animal research is a very complex and nuanced topic, which cannot be encapsulated in a billboard, a 30 second ad, or a Linktree. It's good to be curious and to learn about issues like this BEFORE passing legislation that will do more harm than good. Hopefully this Linktree is an introduction to that discussion. Animal research scientists and caregivers are some of the largest advocates for animals in research, because they truly understand the benefits, and handle the drawbacks firsthand. If you want to learn more, there are more FAQs at nprc.org/faqs. This is the central website for all NPRCs, and a good beginning to dive into the details of primate research.

Support Monkeys!

An introduction to animals in biomedical research, and an individual advocating for the ONPRC, a groundbreaking research center that saves lives