AMP Signs FY25 Appropriations Sign-on Letter Urging Congress to Provide Robust Funding for Animal Research
November 25, 2024
Americans for Medical Progress (AMP) drafted and submitted a sign-on letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging robust support for biomedical animal research. The letter was submitted during a crucial time in the Congressional session, as funding negotiations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 are being finalized amid a Continuing Resolution (CR) set to end on December 20.
Joined by 26 other organizations, the letter underscores the vital role of animal research in developing treatments for humans and animals, empowering the U.S. to lead the way in global science and medicine. To further advance this important goal and address the ongoing challenges confronting the biomedical research community, the letter outlines three recommendations for House and Senate Appropriators:
- Affirm and invest in necessary animal research to maintain biomedical progress, including the development of New Approach Methods (NAMs);
- Emphasize high-quality science rather than funding restrictions and arbitrary deadlines;
- Provide dedicated funding to support and expand the scientific workforce and animal research infrastructure.
UW-Madison MD-PhD Student is Awarded Outreach and Education Fellowship Through the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and Americans for Medical Progress
August 9, 2024
Nakul Aggarwal, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and future medical doctor, has been awarded the ACNP-AMP BRAD Fellowship. The fellowship is a partnership between the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and the health research advocacy group Americans for Medical Progress (AMP). The fellowship aims to raise public awareness about the importance of research for mental health disorders and other brain-behavior topics, including drug interactions, as well as the role of animal studies required for this work.
Dedicated Texas Science Teacher Announced as Curious Science Writers 2024 Educator Fellow
July 8, 2024
Curious Science Writers (CSW) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Karla Chavez-Smith as the new Curious Science Writers Educator Fellow. With her extensive background in science education and her passion for fostering scientific inquiry among high school students, Karla will play a pivotal role in enhancing the effectiveness of CSW’s program.
New Fellowship Winner Announced for Biomedical Research Awareness Day, A Global Effort to Explain the Continued Importance of Animal-Based Research for Improving Human and Animal Health
August 14, 2023
Lindsey Galbo-Thomma, Ph.D., a behavioral pharmacologist with more than 10 years of academic and industry experience working with an array of laboratory animal species, has been awarded the ACNP-AMP BRAD Fellowship. The fellowship is a partnership between the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and the health research advocacy group Americans for Medical Progress (AMP). It was created to help raise public awareness about the essential role of animals in biomedical research, specifically for the study of brain-behavior-drug interactions and advancements in neuropsychopharmacology – the study of all forms of mental health disorders and their treatments. Fellowship winners also help to promote careers in the field.
Scientists, Veterinarians and Conservationists Offer Recommendations to Address Shortage of Long-Tailed Macaques Required for Continued Health Advancements
August 1, 2023
A coalition of 40 organizations representing the scientific, veterinary and conservation communities are partnering to advocate for the protection of longtailed macaque monkeys – both in captivity and in the wild. Their recommendations seek to ensure the healthy continuation of this species within natural habitats and to protect future medical advancements that benefit humans and animals alike.
AMP Statement on the Continued Need for Nonhuman Primate Research and Challenges Created by Accusations of Illegal Monkey Smuggling
March 16, 2023
Recent denials of federal import permits for long-tailed macaque monkeys from Cambodia, following allegations of an animal-smuggling ring in that country, are placing future biomedical progress in jeopardy. This is because approximately 60 percent of long-tailed macaques that are imported into the U.S. for the development of new medications and other health interventions currently come from Cambodia.
Comments from Americans for Medical Progress on the FDA Modernization Act
February 1, 2023
Included are a few statements related to the passing of the FDA Moderization Act:
- It is important to note that before the FDA Modernization Act was passed, the Food and Drug Administration already had tremendous discretion when it comes to the use of both animal and nonanimal alternatives in the critically important task of safety testing new medications prior to their approved use in humans.
- The FDA has always required drug developers to provide evidence that safety and efficacy has been shown. And while the previous version of the law referenced the use of animal studies to do this, it did not expressly require them. This is a claim that has been put forward by animal research opponents but is not actually reflected in the law’s prior language.
- In essence, the FDA Modernization Act made relatively minor changes to the existing statute. These edits added and expanded references to nonanimal alternatives, technologies that did not exist in any great extent when the previous law was written.
- While these updates to the law will not lead to transformative changes to the biomedical research process, passage of the FDA Modernization Act will likely increase dialogue amongst scientists, Congress and the public about the development and funding for new methods to test medications before they approval for human use.
Americans for Medical Progress Statement on Ongoing Misinformation Campaign Targeting the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
October 28, 2021
Efforts by a collection of animal rights organizations this week to mislead the public about critical health research in animals is nothing less than appalling. These groups have essentially accused the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of “medieval torture.” However, as the Washington Post noted, “The only thing being tortured here is the truth.” So many critical facts were missing or purposefully misconstrued by activists, it’s no wonder people are upset. Here are just a few of the important details that were left out:
● The research took place in dogs because much of the work was focused on developing dog vaccines to combat leishmaniasis, a dangerous parasitic disease that threatens both canines and humans. One must logically study dogs in order to develop dog medications. To suggest otherwise is nonsensical.
● An additional reason why leishmaniasis research occurs in canines is because the disease frequently uses dogs as disease hosts. It then jumps to humans via sand fly bites. This demonstrates again why creating a vaccine for dogs is so critically important.
● There are significant factual errors in the claims circulated by animal activists. One of the three research projects that was criticized was never funded by the NIAID or the NIH. As a result, the photo of research animals under mosquito netting that appeared in nearly all the news coverage was also highly misleading.
● Regarding the research that was funded by the NIH, records show extensive steps were taken to ensure the animals involved in studies did not suffer. They were not “eaten alive” by flies as activists have falsely claimed.
Americans for Medical Progress Statement on Research Animal Adoptions and Retirements
August 3, 2022
On occasion, news events generate public questions about the retirement or adoption of animals previously involved in biomedical research that advances both human and veterinary medicine. Below is a statement from Americans for Medical Progress to provide important information and context.
In most cases, animals involved in biomedical research must be humanely euthanized to obtain critical data being sought to improve human and animal health. However, when this is not necessary, Americans for Medical Progress fully supports the retirement and adoption of research animals, whenever possible. In fact, many scientific organizations in the United States have already established their own adoption/retirement policies and procedures to ensure their animals are well cared for after studies are completed.
Wayne State University Scientist Awarded ACNP-AMP BRAD Fellowship to Educate the Public About the Role of Animals in Brain and Behavior Research
August 3, 2022
Lana Ruvolo Grasser, Ph.D., a research associate at Wayne State University has been awarded the ACNP-AMP BRAD Fellowship. The fellowship is a partnership between the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and the health research advocacy group Americans for Medical Progress (AMP). It was created to help raise public awareness about the essential role of animals in health research, specifically for the study of brain-behavior-drug interactions and advancements in psychopharmacology, the study of medications for treating mental disorders. Fellowship winners also help promote careers in the field of neuropsychopharmacology, the study of all forms of mental illness and their treatment.