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Future Vaccine Development Relies on Primates in Short Supply

Feb 23, 2021

In a recently released New York Times article, NABR President Matthew Bailey speaks on the US nonhuman primate shortage. The development of COVID-19 vaccine has demonstrated the essential need of nonhuman primates, who share more than 90% of human DNA. The result of China’s export ban on nonhuman primates has greatly affected biomedical research in the US stemming from COVID-19 studies to Alzheimer studies.

The Implications of NHP Shortages for US Biomedical Research

Feb 09, 2021

Since the beginning of 2020, China placed an export ban on nonhuman primates from entering almost every continent. The result of this ban has greatly affected biomedical research in the UK, Europe, and the US. The US has become reliant on China’s export to test for new treatments for cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorder and cancers. Executive director of European Animal Research Association, Kirk Leech, mentions “as China is the primary source of NHPs purpose-bred for scientific purposes, this ban has had a dramatic impact on both the supply and the cost of NHPs around the world and the ability of researchers to access the animals essential for the development of new vaccines and medicines.”

Orlando Sentinel Published FBR Op-ed

Feb 04, 2021

The Orlando Sentinel in Florida published FBR's latest op-ed on the importance of animal research for coronavirus vaccine development today. FBR President Matthew Bailey wrote: "More than 32 million doses of coronavirus vaccine have been administered in the United States, according to Feb. 3 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

OLAW Update on 21st Century Cures Act Implementation

Feb 04, 2021

National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) will release a prerecorded webinar on March 11 hosted by Dr. Patricia Brown (NIH), Dr. Betty Goldentyer (USDA), and Brianna Skinner (FDA). The webinar, titled “21st Century Cures Act: Update on Implementation,” will focus on updates from the NIH, USDA, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on their progress in applying the recommended measures of the 21st Century Cures Act.

Veterinary Consortium Defines Terms Surrounding Animal Research in JAVMA Article

Feb 04, 2021

Recently, several representative veterinarians from the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM), American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners (ASLAP), American Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS), and Association of Primate Veterinarians (APV) have come together and formed a new group called the Veterinary Consortium for Research Animal Care and Welfare. The group's mission is to “provide accurate information on the care and use of research animals to inform the public, lawmakers, and the scientific community about the veterinary care and welfare of these animals.”

Nominate a Colleague for AAALAC International Bennett J. Cohen Award

Jan 26, 2021

The AAALAC International Executive Office is requesting nominations for individuals who have demonstrated “a strong and abiding commitment to advancing animal welfare and science through promotion of the highest standards of animal care in research, testing, and education.” The award honors the late Dr. Bennett J. Cohen, who contributed to the establishment of AAALAC, AALAS, ACLAM, and other animal science organizations.

USDA’s Proposed Rulemaking on Regulation of the Movement of Animals Modified or Developed by Genetic Engineering

Dec 29, 2020

In response to President Trump’s Executive Order on agricultural biotechnology, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) seeking to establish regulations for the movement of certain animals modified and/or developed through genetic engineering.

RSVP for NABR's January Webinar: The Products and Services of the Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC)

Dec 09, 2020

NABR members are invited to join NABR and the AWIC team on Jan. 12, 2021 from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EST as they discuss the products and services offered at the National Agricultural Library (NAL) and specifically the Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC).

Federal Government Acknowledges NHP Shortage

Sep 28, 2020

In addition to recent stories in The Atlantic, USA Today, and The Independent highlighting an emerging shortage in research NHP availability, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) issued notice number NOT-OD-20-173 titled “Notice of Limited Availability of Research Non-human Primates.”

NABR Recognizes the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Efforts to Streamline Permitting

Oct 28, 2020

National Association for Biomedical Research President Matthew R. Bailey issued the following statement commending the efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service director to streamline permitting actions for wildlife under CITES and other laws.

NABR Board Member Calls for Additional COVID-19 Studies with Nonhuman Primates

Oct 09, 2020

Dr. Nancy Haigwood, current NABR board member and director of the Oregon National Primate Research Center, told Science this week that more comparative studies with primates are needed in order to build comprehensive data around the safest and most effective vaccines for COVID-19. According to Haigwood, “We should take a cold, hard look at all of the data and ask ourselves, ‘What appears to work best?’”

RSVP for NABR’s December Webinar on Animal Research Ethics Today!

Oct 19, 2020

NABR Members are invited to join NABR on Wednesday December 9th at 12:30 p.m. EST when Jerrold Tannebaum returns to our webinar series to discuss “Animal Ethics, Animal Ideology, and the Defense of Animal Research: Why Appealing to Science and the Benefits of Research Alone Will Not Work.”

Join NABR at AALAS National Meeting!

Oct 26, 2020

NABR is excited to announce our participation in this year’s AALAS National Meeting. Although this year’s meeting will be virtual, NABR is looking forward to connecting with attendees online.

AVMA Policies on Transport of Research Animals and Antiparasitic Resistance Revised

Sep 28, 2020

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) House of Delegates (HOD) recently approved revisions to its policies on transportation of research animals and on antiparasitic resistance.

The Atlantic: NHP Shortages are Very Real

Aug 31, 2020

As NABR members well know, the ability of biomedical research institutions to obtain necessary NHP models has become increasingly more challenging due to pressure from animal rights groups, shifting political priorities, and a general lack of awareness of the problems.

Primate Info Net Has Returned!

Aug 26, 2020

The Wisconsin National Primate Research Center launched their new Primate Info Net (PIN), which provides resources surrounding nonhuman primates. PIN displays “primates in the news, educational resources, such as the always popular primate species fact sheets, information services and research resources.”

USDA has confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in Mink within the US

Aug 18, 2020

On Aug. 17, 2020, The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed the first cases of SARS-Co-V-2, within the US, in mink located in two farms in Utah. Individuals that had close contact with the mink have tested positive for Covid-19.

Importance of Animal Research in Making a Covid-19 Vaccine

Aug 18, 2020

In The Buffalo News, NABR President Matthew Bailey spoke about the critical role of animal models in evaluating candidate COVID-19 vaccines. Mr. Bailey stated “the leading Covid-19 vaccines selected to participate in Operation Warp Speed have all undergone extensive animal testing and will go through additional research in animals to prove that they’re safe at the same time they’re going through clinical trials in humans.”