(UC DAVIS, Calif.) – The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a report today centering on a recent workshop that explored the use of non-human primates (NHPs) in medical research.
The workshop, held Sept. 7, 2016, and entitled “Ensuring the Continued Responsible Oversight of Research with Non-Human Primates” brought together leading experts in science, ethics, policy and animal welfare including California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC) Director Dr. John Morrison and CNPRC Core Scientist Dr. David Amaral.
“This workshop was convened in response to congressional interest and aligned with the agency’s continued interest in ensuring the NIH continues to have robust policies and practices for supporting both cutting edge science and the highest ethical standards of animal care and use,” read the report. “At the workshop, NIH leadership received broad input from researchers, bioethicists, veterinarians and policymakers from both inside and outside the NIH representing a wide array of professionals knowledgeable in the care and use of non-human primates.” The workshop explored the state of NIH-supported biomedical and behavioral research involving non-human primates, and provided an overview of the current oversight framework governing the conduct of this research and the associated ethical underpinnings, according to the report. Participants carried out a variety of discussions to better understand how non-human primates uniquely contribute to the biomedical research enterprise and how ethical and welfare concerns associated with their use are addressed by relevant policies and practices. Full report: Click below to view the full workshop video from the NIH: