Oregon Primate Center May Become First US Research Sanctuary

The Oregon National Primate Research Center, home to 5,000 monkeys, could become America's first major research facility to transition into an animal sanctuary. The Oregon Health & Science University board voted in February to explore the federally supported switch after being approached by the National Institutes of Health.

The center is the oldest and largest of seven national primate research centers in the country. Most of its residents are rhesus macaques, though it also houses Japanese macaques, baboons, and squirrel monkeys. During the six-month negotiation period with NIH, most monkey breeding will pause.

Animal advocacy groups have welcomed the news with open arms. "This is a glorious day for monkeys and for science," said Kathy Guillermo of PETA. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which campaigned for years to end primate research at the center, sees it as a shift toward more effective research methods.

The move reflects a broader federal trend toward reducing animal research. In November, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention halted all monkey studies involving about 200 macaques. NIH is pushing to replace animal testing with alternatives like organoids and computer simulations.

Many scientists worry the transition could harm critical medical research. The center's monkeys participate in studies on HIV, neuroscience, immunology, and metabolic health. Former director Nancy Haigwood called it "a travesty," questioning why a well-functioning system would be dismantled.

Neuroscientist Vincent Costa from Emory University argues that alternatives cannot yet replace primate research. "A sanctuary is not a strategy," he said at the board meeting. "It is a capitulation to fear and to political pressure that ignores scientific reality."

The Ripple Effect

The decision reaches far beyond Oregon's borders. If successful, this transition could reshape how America balances animal welfare with medical advancement. The estimated $220 to $291 million cost over eight years raises questions about research funding priorities.

Some researchers point out that taxpayer dollars originally earmarked for medical research would now fund sanctuary care instead. Others see it as investing in a more humane future where technology can do what animal testing once did.

The debate highlights an evolving conversation about scientific progress and compassion. Both sides agree on one thing: whatever happens next will influence primate research centers nationwide and potentially accelerate the development of animal-free research alternatives.

This six-month negotiation period will determine whether the center continues its research mission or pioneers a new path that prioritizes animal welfare while maintaining care for thousands of primates who call it home.