RSVP for NABR's January Webinar: The FY 2021 USDA Oversight Process
Nov 10, 2021
Each year NABR obtains information from the USDA’s Animal Care Inspection System database using the Public Search Tool to review the inspection results for the previous fiscal year and provides a review and analysis of that information. The Public Search Tool was updated in September 2020 and in addition to the inspection reports, now includes the number of Teachable Moments issued during each inspection and the actual documentation has been posted as of January 2020. The Public Search tool website now also contains information on enforcement actions including letters of warning that the USDA recently began reissuing.
200k Views and Counting: Watch & Share FBR’s Latest PSA on COVID-19 Vaccines
Nov 10, 2021
NABR’s sister organization the Foundation for Biomedical Research put out a fabulous PSA thanking veterinarians, vet techs, animal caretakers, and lab animals for their role in COVID-19 vaccine development. The efforts of all those involved in the process deserve our appreciation. Lifesaving vaccines and treatments were not possible without medical research with animals. It’s the least we can do to say thank you to all laboratory workers. The foundation educates and informs the public about the important role of animal models for therapeutics, drugs, and vaccines. Please share FBR’s video “Meet the Unsung COVID-19 Vaccine Heroes” with your network.
'Medical development without animal testing is the goal, but we’re not there yet'
Nov 03, 2021
The Washington Post published a letter to the editor called “Medical development without animal testing is the goal, but we’re not there yet” on Tuesday. The piece was authored by SfN Committee on Animals in Research Chair, Katalin Gothard.
USA Today Fact-Checked and Confirms all US Authorized COVID-19 Vaccines Completed Animal Testing
Sep 14, 2021
There have been numerous controversies surrounding whether Pfizer, Moderna, and the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines had gone through animal testing. USA Today fact-checked this myth and confirmed that all COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States have undergone animal testing. During each vaccine’s animal testing trials, “the vaccines showed they effectively limit COVID-19 contraction. … The FDA referenced these studies in the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines’ Emergency Use Authorization forms, and an FDA spokesperson confirmed this claim is false.” Full story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/09/10/fact-check-pfizer-moderna-johnson-johnson-covid-vaccines-animal-studies/8262536002/
RSVP for NABR's November Webinar!
Sep 29, 2021
Join us on Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 12:30 p.m. EST when Jerrold Tannenbaum returns to our webinar series with a new presentation titled “Follow the Science! Why the Pursuit of Knowledge – and not ‘Harm-Benefit Analysis’ – is the Key to Scientifically and Ethically Sound Animal Research.”
The Jackson Laboratory Healthcare Forum
Sep 29, 2021
On Oct. 27-28, The Jackson Laboratory will hold the 2021 JAX Healthcare Forum to discuss the “post COVID world” and the current landscape of the biomedical research community.
APHIS has a New Online Process for Licenses and Registrations
Sep 02, 2021
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is now accepting online applications for licenses and registrations under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The application process has become more user-friendly and revised as part of “APHIS’ commitment to improve customer experience by reducing regulatory burden and offering intuitive, user-friendly digital experiences.”
NIAID Explains the Important Role of Mice, Hamsters, and Monkeys in COVID-19 Vaccine Developments
Sep 02, 2021
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease at NIH reported on its website how the agency’s decades-long support helped to develop a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. The agency acknowledged that animal studies will continue to be essential in providing vital information as new SARS-COV-2 variants emerge. Before a vaccine can be tested in humans, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires a vaccine to be tested in animals to ensure safety and effectiveness.
OLAW’s New Guides Notice and Website on Conducting Semiannual Animal Facilities Inspections
Aug 12, 2021
In response to the 21st Century Cures Act, NIH’s Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) and the USDA created a guide notice (NOT-OD-21-164) to provide flexibilities for conducting semiannual inspections of animal facilities that may reduce administrative burden. The guidance clarifies the nine flexibilities that institutions can implement to reduce administrative burden.
EARA Sheds Light on EC’s 2018 Animal Numbers
Aug 12, 2021
The European Animal Research Association (EARA) recently shared the European Commission’s comprehensive statistics on all animals, across the EU, used in scientific, medical, and veterinary research for 2018.
Q&A with the USDA – The Ninth Edition
May 04, 2021
NABR is once again pleased to announce the return of one of its most requested webinars, the Ninth Edition of "Q&A with the USDA." Join USDA-APHIS Animal Care’s Drs. Elizabeth Theodorson, assistant deputy administrator, and Rosemary Sifford, associate deputy administrator, for "Q&A with the USDA: The Ninth Edition” on Tuesday, July 20 at 12:30 p.m. EDT.
The Detroit News: America Needs Research Monkeys
May 04, 2021
Yesterday, The Detroit News published FBR and NABR President Matthew R. Bailey’s op-ed on why research monkeys are necessary to advance medical therapies. Mr. Bailey discusses that “scientists are concerned that new COVID-19 variants popping up around the globe will evolve and could potentially thwart the treatments they’ve developed. Vaccines have proven effective against them.” “However, Brazil’s P.1 variant, which has been detected in many U.S. states, is particularly concerning, since it can re-infect people who have already had other versions of the coronavirus,” he continued.
Applicants Needed for ILAR Program Officer Position
Apr 27, 2021
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) is seeking applicants for a Program Officer. Some responsibilities entail “developing and managing one or more of the organization's programs or projects with minimal oversight by Director or Senior Program Officer” and developing “program or project strategy and budget, supervises staff, and ensures program or project meets objectives.” Some qualifications include a master’s degree in a related field, 3 years of related professional experience, and demonstrating a high level in understanding scientific, technical, and policy.
Neuralink Monkey Plays MindPong Telepathically
Apr 27, 2021
On April 8th, Elon Musk’s company Neuralink released a short clip demonstrating their 9-year-old macaque monkey named Pager. Pager, who has been fitted with a Neuralink brain chip. The brain implant has allowed Pager to play “MingPong” telepathically. This development demonstrates the future ability to help individuals with paralysis to use a computer or smartphone by simply imagining the hand movements they would need to operate it.
Reuters Fact-Checked the Myth That COVID Vaccine Skipped Animal Trials
Apr 15, 2021
Decades of humane and responsible animal research laid the foundation for the development of successful COVID-19 vaccines in record time. Check out Reuter's recent fact check: https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-covid-vaccines/fact-check-covid-19-vaccines-are-not-experimental-and-they-have-not-skipped-trial-stages-idUSL1N2M70MW
RSVP for NABR's Upcoming Webinar: The 2020 USDA Oversight Process
Mar 24, 2021
Please join us on April 20th for the second of NABR’s 2021 webinar series, “The 2020 USDA Oversight Process.” Each year NABR obtains information from the USDA’s Animal Care Inspection System database to review the inspection results for the previous fiscal year and provides a review and analysis of that information in the first webinar of the year.
Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms Reversed in NHPs
Mar 08, 2021
NABR Board member Dr. Marina Emborg and University of Wisconsin-Madison neuroscientist Su-Chun Zhang discussed their success in avoiding complications with nonhuman primates (NHP) immune systems with the neurons created from induced pluripotent stem cells in a Nature Medicine study published Monday. The researchers demonstrated the reversal of Parkinson’s symptoms, such as debilitating movement and depression, in NHPs is possible.
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.”
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.
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.”
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 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).
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.”
NABR Secures NHP Exemption from Trade Tariffs
Aug 13, 2020
As NABR members are fully aware, the research community continues to face numerous challenges acquiring the most scientifically appropriate models for research, especially nonhuman primates.
Your Action Needed: House Appropriations Process Again Favors Animal Rights Activists
Jul 23, 2020
NABR members will remember that last year Congress, being divided politically between a Democratic House and Republican Senate, struggled to pass critical appropriations bills until the eleventh hour.
National Academies Affirms Scientific Necessity of VA Canine Research
Jul 01, 2020
A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) study has confirmed that the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) canine research is “scientifically necessary” for research that benefits Veterans.
European Commission Underscores Importance of Animal Research
Jun 22, 2020
As reported by animal research organizations in Europe, The European Parliament’s Committee on Petitions has responded to an animal rights petition seeking a “Europe-wide moratorium on the use of animals in scientific research.”
Legal Personhood Case Fails in Connecticut
Jun 22, 2020
The Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) posted a blog post by Steven Wise on May 14 expressing disappointment in a ruling from the Connecticut Appellate Court regarding their attempts to gain human-equivalent rights for Elephants in a local zoo.
RSVP for the July "Q&A with USDA" Webinar Today!
Jun 22, 2020
NABR is once again pleased to announce the return of one of its most requested webinars, the Eighth Edition of "Q&A with the USDA."
USDA Confirmed COVID-19 in Dog
Jun 22, 2020
The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) announced on June 2 that they have confirmed a case of COVID-19 in a pet dog in New York.
NABR Addresses Wildlife Importation Bill - Research Animal Importation at Risk
Jun 22, 2020
On May 19, 2020, Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced a bill tentatively titled the “Global Wildlife Health and Pandemic Prevention Act.”
NIH to Retire Alamogordo Chimpanzees in Place
Feb 19, 2020
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director, Francis Collins, has released a statement today regarding the retirement of their aging Alamogordo chimpanzees.
Dog Research at the VA Ruled Humane
Feb 19, 2020
The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare has ruled that research involving canine models conducted at four Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers is in compliance with animal welfare guidelines.
NABR DOT Complaint Makes Headlines
Feb 19, 2020
As you may be aware, NABR has filed an official complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding the refusal of major airlines to carry animals for the purpose of research.
Please File Letters of Support for NABR DOT Complaint
Feb 19, 2020
NABR has filed an official complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding the refusal of major airlines to carry animals for the purpose of research.