Why is the National Institutes of Health NIH retiring its research chimps?
“This decision demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding of the quality of care and the quality of life provided chimpanzees at the Keeling Center.” Collins says that a 2013 law passed by Congress requires NIH to move chimps to federal sanctuaries, of which Chimp Haven is the only accredited facility.
Are chimpanzees still used in research?
Chimpanzees have been used for decades in biomedical research and testing. Because they share more than 98% of their DNA with humans, they have been considered an “ideal” research subject, one that can be used to stand in for human subjects in experiments that would not be ethical to conduct on humans.
Is chimpanzee research legal in the US?
As of 14 September, no U.S. labs will be conducting invasive research on chimps. Zero. That’s the number of labs that have applied for a permit to conduct invasive research on chimpanzees in the United States, as required by a new U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) rule.
What is a group of chimp?
A group of chimps is called a “community” The chimpanzee is our closest living relative sharing 98.7% of our DNA.
What is the National Institute of Health’s policy on chimpanzees?
The Chimpanzee Health Improvement, Maintenance and Protection Act (CHIMP Act) requires that chimpanzees no longer used in research be retired to the Federal sanctuary system. Animal welfare laws and regulations, however, prohibit the transport of obviously ill, injured, or physically distressed chimpanzees.
What plan for chimpanzees is underway at the National Institutes of Health?
NIH plans to retain but not breed up to 50 chimpanzees for future biomedical research. The chimpanzees that will remain available for research will be selected based on research projects that meet the IOM’s principles and criteria for NIH funding.
What are the important concerns about using chimpanzees in research?
The reason (given the close genetic relationship of chimpanzees to humans) is not clear, but one reason is probably the lack of research in basic biology and medicine in chimpanzees. The cost of using chimpanzees has prevented research on all but high-visibility diseases such as AIDS and hepatitis B research.
What are some restrictions on the use of chimpanzees for research in the United States?
US Federal Laws. There is no ban on using chimpanzees for scientific research or entertainment. The most that federal laws do is regulate the conditions under which chimpanzees are transported and housed, and the ways in which humans must care for them while they are under their control.
When did chimp research end?
June 2013
Since June 2013, based on recommendations from the Council of Councils, NIH has phased out all previously active biomedical research protocols using chimpanzees that did not meet the IOM principles and criteria, and no new biomedical research projects have been approved. Another major development occurred last summer.