Research with Nonhuman Primates:
Opportunity and Challenge

Research with nonhuman primates plays an important role in the advancement of human health. Today, as we enter an era where we can unravel the mysteries of the genome and understand diseases at the molecular level, the role of nonhuman primates is more critical than ever in the search for cures.

Many of us find it bewildering to peer into the world of science, which has become increasingly specialized and is moving at a pace that can be overwhelming even to scientists. Promising new findings are announced almost every day, yet it may be months or even years between the announcement of a discovery and the introduction of a new treatment that touches the lives of patients. The reason for this lag time is that researchers must first determine whether scientific findings can be translated into safe and effective treatments.

Research with nonhuman primates represents a vital step on the path from scientific discovery to new treatment, yet it also presents us with challenging choices.

Nonhuman primates represent a crucial research model: Biologists have discovered striking similarities between nonhuman primate species and human beings. For this reason, nonhuman primates are critical to biomedical research targeting the causes, progression, prevention, and treatment of a wide variety of human diseases. Furthermore, the benefits move in both directions because breakthroughs in human medicine are also used to treat diseases in other animals, including nonhuman primates.

Animal research is conducted under strict supervision: All research with animals must meet certain oversight requirements, and research involving nonhuman primates receives special scrutiny. This includes prior review of research plans by an institutional animal care and use committee to determine whether animals are needed to answer a given scientific question. In addition, research animals must be provided with appropriate food, water, housing, and veterinary care. The vast majority of research animals are specially bred rats and mice.  Nonhuman primates comprise a tiny fraction of all research animals yet they play a critical role in medical progress on a wide variety of diseases.

We urge you to learn more about research with nonhuman primates and why it should go forward. For more information about the role of nonhuman primate research in health discoveries and the hope it provides for the future, see “Linking Research to Healthy Living” (http://www.primate.wisc.edu/wprc/pdfs/brochure.pdf).