OHSU Board Votes to Transition Primate Research Center Toward Nonanimal, Human-Based Methods
Key Insights
The OHSU Board of Directors passed a resolution to significantly reduce primate experiments and transition the Oregon National Primate Research Center toward nonanimal, human-based research.
The resolution anticipates eventual removal of the center's federal designation as a National Primate Research Center, reflecting a broader federal shift away from animal testing.
More than 550 physicians separately called on HHS Secretary RFK Jr. to phase out primate experimentation across all seven National Primate Research Centers.
The Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU) Board of Directors has passed a landmark resolution that will significantly reduce primate experiments and breeding at the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) and transition the facility toward nonanimal, human-based research. The decision, announced in Portland, Oregon, was welcomed by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which has led a sustained campaign to end primate experimentation at the center.
The resolution anticipates an eventual removal of the center's federal designation as a National Primate Research Center, marking a significant institutional shift in biomedical research strategy. To ensure accountability, the Physicians Committee is urging the OHSU Board to establish a detailed implementation plan with a public timeline and measurable milestones that would end primate experiments on a specified schedule.
"This resolution to transition the center into a leader in nonanimal research is a significant step in the right direction," said Mikalah Singer, science policy specialist at the Physicians Committee. "We urge OHSU to set clear, measurable milestones to completely phase out primate experimentation."
Broader Federal Momentum Away from Animal Testing
The OHSU board's decision reflects a growing trend across federal agencies to move away from animal-based research. Several agencies—including the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—have announced plans to reduce reliance on animal experiments in favor of human clinical trials and technologies such as organ-on-a-chip systems and advanced computational methods.
The CDC (search) ended its monkey research programs in late 2025, and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has stated he is committed to ending the importation of nonhuman primates for laboratory research. Harvard University previously closed its New England Primate Research Center in 2015.
Physicians' Letter to HHS Secretary RFK Jr.
In a parallel development, more than 550 physicians have called on Secretary Kennedy to direct the NIH to phase out primate experimentation in favor of modern, human-based research methods. The letter, sent Monday and led by Neal Barnard, MD, FACC, president and founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, asks for phasing out support for the nation's seven National Primate Research Centers, plans for retiring primates currently in laboratories, and initiatives for supporting researchers, staff, and institutions in making the transition to advanced, human-based approaches.
"Federal research policy should reflect the best available science," said Dr. Barnard. "Modern human-based methods offer a more effective path to understanding disease and developing treatments than experiments on monkeys."
Scientific Rationale for Human-Based Methods
The physicians note that a growing body of scientific evidence supports replacing animal experiments with research methods based on human biology. These approaches include organoids, microphysiological systems, computational modeling, and studies using human tissues and patient data. According to proponents, these methods can generate data that are more directly relevant to human health, improve research efficiency, reduce costs, and accelerate the development of new treatments while avoiding the ethical concerns associated with primate experimentation.
Controversy Surrounding ONPRC
ONPRC has faced scrutiny for multiple animal welfare violations leading to animal deaths and for harmful and often fatal experiments. The Physicians Committee's campaign to end primate experimentation at the facility has included public education, legislative testimony, engagement with federal agencies, and public comments to the OHSU Board. More than 25,000 Oregonians have contacted the governor and state lawmakers urging closure of the facility.