Survey Finds Strong Majority Support for Vet-Supervised Biomedical Animal Research in the U.S.
核心洞察
More than three in five Americans (62%) support biomedical animal research when veterinarians supervise to ensure animal welfare, with only 13% opposed.
A majority accept animal research for severe conditions including cancer (搜索) (56%), rare diseases (搜索) (52%), and brain/nervous system conditions (50%) when no alternatives exist.
Nearly two-thirds (63%) disagree that humans should replace animals in medical testing, and only 29% believe AI can currently replace animal research.
A new national survey reveals that a strong majority of Americans support biomedical animal research conducted under veterinary supervision, underscoring continued public backing for animal-based studies critical to pharmaceutical and medical innovation. The poll, conducted by Ipsos between June 10 and June 12, 2026, surveyed 2,011 U.S. adults aged 18 and older and was commissioned by Oregon Voices for Biomedical Research (搜索) (OVBR), a nonprofit advocacy group of veterinarians, scientists, and healthcare professionals.
The findings arrive amid political pressure to close the Oregon National Primate Research Center (搜索) (ONPRC), a federally supervised institution that has conducted biomedical research since 1962. OVBR contends that calls for closure are "based on anti-science politics rather than evidence and public interest."
Strong Support When Animal Welfare Is Protected
The survey found that 62% of Americans strongly or somewhat agree with the statement, "I support biomedical animal research when veterinarians watch over it to make sure animals are treated well." Only 13% expressed opposition, while 21% remained neutral and 4% were unsure.
Half of respondents (50%) agreed that biomedical animal research is acceptable for human diseases needing better prevention or treatment, compared to 17% who disagreed and 27% who were neutral.
"More than three in five Americans support biomedical animal research when veterinarians watch over it to make sure animals are treated well," the Ipsos topline findings state. "Furthermore, a majority agree this research is important to human health and accept its use when there is no reliable animal-free method."
Perceived Value to Human Health
Nearly six in ten Americans (58%) agreed that biomedical animal research is important to human health, with 37% somewhat agreeing and 21% strongly agreeing. Only 14% disagreed.
On the question of public funding, 47% supported using tax dollars for biomedical animal research with clear health benefits, while 23% opposed and 24% remained neutral.
Disease Areas Deemed Most Acceptable for Animal Research
When asked which health problems justify biomedical animal research when no other study method exists, respondents prioritized conditions that align closely with the research portfolio at ONPRC:
- Cancer: 56%
- Rare diseases (genetic, immune system disorders): 52%
- Brain and nervous system conditions (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, dementia, mental health): 50%
- Infectious diseases (HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, flu, COVID): 49%
- Heart health (heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure): 44%
- Organ transplants and spinal cord repair: 38%
- Reproductive health: 31%
- Metabolism and weight (diabetes, weight loss treatments): 26%
One in four Americans (25%) stated that biomedical animal research is never acceptable under any circumstances.
Resistance to Human Testing and Skepticism Toward AI Replacement
The survey revealed strong opposition to replacing animals with human subjects in medical testing. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (63%) disagreed with the statement that "humans, including pregnant women and children, should be used to test medical treatments instead of animals," with 44% strongly disagreeing. Only 16% agreed.
When asked whether they would personally volunteer for drug safety testing while healthy, 39% disagreed compared to 30% who agreed, and 25% remained neutral.
Regarding artificial intelligence, Americans expressed notable skepticism: only 29% agreed that AI can currently replace biomedical animal research, while 33% disagreed and 24% were neutral. Notably, 15% were unsure—the highest uncertainty rate across all survey questions.
Alternatives and the Path Forward
A majority of Americans (53%) agreed that they "accept the use of animals in biomedical research if there is no reliable animal-free method," and 51% agreed that "biomedical animal research should continue until methods that do not use animals are shown to be just as good or better." Only 20% disagreed with each statement.
Awareness and Personal Engagement
The survey found that 61% of Americans were already aware of what biomedical animal research entails before participating in the poll. However, only 40% said the issue is one they personally care about, while 39% remained neutral—suggesting room for greater public engagement on the topic.
Methodology
The survey was conducted online in English among a nationally representative sample of 2,011 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. Ipsos employed random sampling from its online panel, partner panel sources, and "river" sampling, with post-hoc weighting to match U.S. Census 2024 American Community Survey data on age, gender, region, ethnicity, and household income. The results carry a credibility interval of ±2.5 percentage points for all respondents.
OVBR emphasized that the data support continued operations at ONPRC, which conducts research under strict veterinary and federal oversight. The group warns that closing the center "risks the welfare of animals at the center, our national and international scientific standing, and the economic viability of Oregon Health and Sciences University (搜索) (OHSU), the region, and the state."