On Thursday, April 11, 2024 an AMP opinion article on a crucially important topic was published in the Tallahassee Democrat. The op-ed is focused on the current shortage of nonhuman primates for biomedical research in the United States. The shortage was created by a variety of factors, including China’s decision to end animal exports during the pandemic, requiring biomedical research companies to quickly seek out alternative sources for these crucially important animals. The increased need for NHP studies to develop new COVID-19 vaccines and therapies also had a significant impact on the supply of research animals.

In recent months, plans to build much-needed breeding facilities on U.S. soil have repeatedly been targeted by a variety of animal rights organizations. AMP authored this opinion article to provide some critical context and inform the public about why facilities such as this are urgently needed to protect both human and animal health.

Excerpt:  

“If you’ve received a flu vaccine, or given your child cold medicine, you have directly benefited from animal research. If you’ve taken insulin for diabetes, received the polio vaccine, undergone chemotherapy, underwent coronary bypass surgery, had kidney dialysis, or taken medications for psychiatric illnesses, research in nonhuman primates played a big part in those treatments.”

“Critics often argue that computer models or organs-on-a-chip can replace animal research. And while these technologies help reduce the number of animals that need to be studied, they are still in their infancy and cannot fully replicate the intricate workings of the human body. “

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Our Curious Science Writers are not only curious, they’re also remarkable students! 

High school student Tara Prakash attended last year’s science writing Boot Camp. Afterwards she wrote an article about nonhuman primate research aimed at helping us better understand and treat autism, a story which should hit the cSw website in the near future. Tara also authored a blog post about the 2022 Boot Camp, providing future prospective students with an inside view. 

But that’s not all!

Last month the Journal of Student Research published a scientific article authored by Tara. The title: “Zebrafish Demystify Human Skin Color Variation and Develop a Basis for Pigmentation.” The full article is posted online (no membership required). You can find it at this link.    

Congratulations Tara!

Based on all indicators, Biomedical Research Awareness Day 2023 was another smashing success. Once again, we witnessed broad, worldwide participation including: 

• More than 230 registered events around the world, topping all previous records and making 2023 the biggest BRAD to date.  
• International participation in the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Pakistan, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, and Germany. 
• A wide variety of engaging and educational events such as lectures, facility tours, information booths, classroom visits, interactive games for staff and attendees, online engagement, distribution of educational materials, giveaways and more. 
• Over 700 registrations for this year’s official BRAD webinar featuring Dr. Tania Roth of the University of Delaware. In many cases, groups ranging from 10 to over 150 people gathered to watch the event.      

We’ve highlighted several regional celebrations on the BRAD Facebook page. We were also pleased to see several posts from research organizations taking part in the annual event as well. 

Here’s a brief video highlighting just a few of the hundreds of celebrations worldwide:

Don’t forget that Biomedical Research Awareness Day was designed to take place any time of the year. So if your institution was unable to participate on April 20th, you don’t have to wait another 12 months! Plenty of free resources, including several newly developed items, can be found on the BRAD website.

Finally, one more big thank you to all of our 2023 sponsors:

We could not have done it without you!

Thursday April 20th, 2023 was Biomedical Research Awareness Day. We hope many of you work at institutions that take part in this increasingly popular outreach and education event created by AMP.

If you didn’t have a chance to attend a BRAD activity, it’s not too late. This  year’s BRAD webinar is available via replay. Just click this link  and fill out the registration form to watch it.

This year’s presenter is Tania Roth, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Delaware. She explains how nonhuman animals provide vital information that helps us understand how early-life experiences can significantly affect development and lifelong health. This year’s webinar also includes a rat tickling demonstration by Megan Gerhardt of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, which is AstraZeneca’s Rare Disease Unit.

We hope you can find the time to watch this outstanding presentation. 

The next program in the AMP Outreach and Communications Webinar Series, our first of 2023, is coming in May.

Tuesday , May 2, 12 p.m. ET

Post-COVID Challenges, Hurdles and Solutions in Lab Animal Care Settings

COVID-19 has ushered in several life-changing impacts, especially within biomedical research settings. And many of the pandemic’s effects continue today. These include: 

• Continued recruitment and retention issues. 
• Engagement problems created by the increased use of online meetings.  
• Morale challenges that surfaced during the pandemic and continue to exist.  
• Training issues: In-person vs. online and additional technology hurdles.  
• Supply shortages, supply chain problems. 

AMP will host a panel discussion with senior lab animal experts in both academic and business settings to discuss how they’ve addressed and continue to manage these issues using creative strategies, many of which will likely assist a wide range of research organizations. 

Audience members will be invited to share their own, additional post-COVID challenges for an open discussion about possible solutions. 

Click this link to sign up. Note: Please sign up using a work-associated email address so that we can verify you are affiliated with a biomedical-science organization.    

All of us at Americans for Medical Progress, employees and board members alike, are mourning the loss of former AMP Board of Directors Chair Dr. John Young, VMD, MS, DACLAM. For several years, John played a pivotal and transformative role in AMP’s efforts. He died on Sunday, March 19th at the age of 65. 

John served as AMP’s Board chair for over a decade, from 2001 to 2012 after he initially accepted a role on the board in 1999. In addition to guiding the organization for many years, including the turbulent 2007 – 2008 global financial crisis, he assisted in the development of several exciting new initiatives created to support and protect biomedical research. He also played a prominent role in AMP’s advocacy programs on several occasions. Many of you have likely viewed his guided video tour of the Cedars Sinai Medical Center animal care facility that John managed for many years. The video was viewed as a transformative step forward for lab animal education. It was initially distributed by AMP on DVD. Nowadays, you can also find it on AMP’s YouTube channel and at other online locations as well. AMP’s YouTube upload has achieved over 100,000 views and continues to garner more each year. John also regularly spoke with school students about the necessary role of animals in ensuring continued medical advancements. 

As for John’s academic and professional career, after graduating from Penn State in 1979, he attended veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania.  He then moved to Los Angeles where he worked at the Sepulveda VA Medical Center as Director of the Animal Research facility. He  arrived at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in 1989 where he served in a variety of roles and eventually retired in 2021 as Executive Director of Comparative Medicine and Assistant Dean of Education.

He served for many years in a number of leadership roles for the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS). He was also the recipient of several honors and awards including the President’s Award at Cedars Sinai and the Special Contributions Award at VAMC Long Beach. He authored peer reviewed publications, presented at international conferences and even helped found the POOCH (Pet Therapy) program at Cedars Sinai. 

As we remember John, we again thank him for all of his outstanding contributions to laboratory animal medicine and public education. A memorial page with additional information about John containing photos and a chance to post memories can be found at this link. We invite you to join us in honoring him and his lasting legacy.  

The Federation for American Societies for Experimental Biology is hosting a webinar on April 12 to summarize a new report on the current status of the animal rights movement and strategies for protecting current and future studies. The report was authored by Americans for Medical Progress, FASEB, the Foundation for Biomedical Research and the National Association for Biomedical Research. It’s titled Animal Research Activism: Update and Recommendations to Promote Communication, Transparency, and Public Outreach About Animal Research and can be downloaded at this link.  

During the free, one-hour webinar, representatives from all four author organizations will collaboratively: 

• Examine both new and longstanding tactics employed by animal rights groups. 
• Propose proactive and reactive strategies (communications, legislative, etc.) to counter the damaging impacts of animal rights campaigns. 
• Offer recommendations to improve or expand communications, education and public outreach about animal research. 

Registration information 

Click this link to register for this presentation which will be followed by a Q&A session.  

A new report authored by Americans for Medical Progress, FASEB, the Foundation for Biomedical Research and the National Association for Biomedical Research provides updates and advice aimed at countering animal rights activism and the serious threat it poses to future progress. The document is titled “Animal Research Activism: Update and Recommendations to Promote Communication, Transparency, and Public Outreach About Animal Research.” It was created to educate the animal research community about the evolving threat of animal rights activism, encourage stakeholders to improve communication/outreach efforts and provide specific advice in doing so. 

The report is organized into three main areas: 

• An examination of both new and longstanding tactics employed by animal rights groups. 
• Some proposed proactive and reactive strategies (communications, legislative, etc.) to counter the damaging impacts of animal rights campaigns. 
• Specific recommendations to improve or expand communication, education and public outreach about animal research. 

A full copy of the report can be downloaded at this link.  

Seattle, WA – Five members of a University of Washington committee responsible for reviewing all animal-based research proposals have filed a federal lawsuit against the university seeking to protect themselves, their families and their colleagues from escalating hostility and harassment from activists who oppose animal research.

The five Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) members are asking the courts to block attempts by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to obtain their identities and also the names of more than 70 of their fellow colleagues who either currently serve or have served on the University of Washington IACUC committee.

This request comes in the wake of several troubling incidents highlighted in court filings. These include:

• The recent harassment of a University of Washington faculty member at home by a group of protestors. The gathering was organized by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the same group that is now requesting the names of additional University of Washington IACUC members as well as alternate and previous committee members.
• Several threatening emails, letters and voice messages to university staff that have, among other things, referred to health researchers who work with animals as “vile [expletive] humans” adding “I’m going to do what is necessary to stop animal research.”
• A series of hostile/menacing comments recently made by members of the public attending UW IACUC meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic via Zoom. During these meetings, University of Washington labs have been likened to “Auschwitz”, and members of the university IACUC have been compared to “Nazis” and deemed “sadistic”. Note: Individual committee member names are not displayed during these meetings for personal safety and security reasons.

Read full press release here.