May 12, 2025

Americans for Medical Progress submitted a letter to NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, regarding its newly announced initiative to prioritize human-based research technologies while reducing the use of animals.

The letter, which was also shared with Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of the Department of Health and Human Services, emphasizes AMP’s support for a balanced and evidence-based transition into the next generation of biomedical research. But this shift must be comprehensive, transparent, and inclusive of the scientific resources and knowledge at our disposal, including ongoing work with animals. By combining the strengths of both traditional and emerging methodologies—alongside continual stakeholder input—we can uphold the health and safety of both people and animals and drive science forward in a responsible manner

To achieve this, AMP provides six recommendations:

1. Commit to an integrative approach to ensure stronger science.
2. Address infrastructure and knowledge gaps alongside interagency inconsistencies.
3. Sustain and implement recommendations from the 2021 NIH Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD) animal research working group report.
4. Establish a NAMs rigor and reproducibility task force.
5. Preserve peer review quality and integrity.
6. Demonstrate commitment to the 3Rs through practice, not numbers.

Download a PDF copy of AMP’s letter here.

April 16, 2025

On April 16, Americans for Medical Progress issued the following statement regarding recent announcements from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) related to reducing animal research.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Americans for Medical Progress (AMP) affirms the essential role of animals in biomedical research and recognizes the growing momentum toward reducing and eventually replacing animals in areas of research where it is scientifically appropriate. This effort is evident in the recent announcements made by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to discontinue certain animal tests. As a national advocacy organization, we support strong science that generates safe, effective advancements for human and animal health. This includes the development of new approach methodologies (NAMs) that are highly valuable for preliminary studies and increasingly serve as complementary tools alongside animal studies, enhancing our ability to gather robust, multidimensional data throughout the scientific process.

The FDA’s recent announcement to phase out animal testing requirements for monoclonal antibody therapies marks an admirable advancement, demonstrating the significant progress in science, technology, and medicine thanks to animal research. While some view this as a major policy shift, this change actually reflects the scientific community’s longstanding and ongoing commitment to integrate NAMs when it is scientifically appropriate and safe to do so. However, while NAMs are rapidly advancing and offer exciting potential, they are not yet capable of fully replacing animal studies across all areas of biomedical research and safety testing. These emerging tools still require rigorous validation to ensure they can consistently replicate the complexity of living systems.

Therefore, we are concerned that a premature or overly broad phaseout of animal studies with arbitrary timelines could unintentionally compromise the health and safety of both humans and animals. For example, the FDA’s Roadmap to Reducing Animal Testing in Preclinical Safety Studies states, “In the long-term (3-5 years), FDA will aim to make animal studies the exception rather than the norm for pre-clinical safety/toxicity testing.” Although this objective is well-intentioned, it represents an impractical and short-sighted approach because scientific progress does not adhere to rigid timelines. Additionally, an accelerated plan could jeopardize research quality if scientists focus on fulfilling policy deadlines rather than prioritizing safety and scientific integrity.

Until NAMs are fully proven across a wide range of applications, it is critical that changes to longstanding research practices be implemented thoughtfully, transparently, and with the input of diverse stakeholders. This includes scientists developing non-animal methods, researchers who rely on these technologies in the lab, veterinarians and animal care staff with extensive knowledge of animal welfare, and industry sponsors who submit data (both animal and non-animal) to FDA for approval. Furthermore, public input must be a key component of this process to ensure that policy decisions are grounded in evidence and practicality.

Finally, any transition away from animal-based studies must include a clear and well-funded plan for the rehoming and long-term care of animals currently in research settings. Ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of these animals requires detailed logistics, adequate resources, and strong collaboration with sanctuaries, transport services, and animal care professionals.

AMP remains committed to advancing both science and animal welfare and believes these goals can and must be pursued together. We are prepared to engage constructively with regulatory agencies, researchers, and the public to help navigate this important step responsibly and ethically.

Download a PDF copy of AMP’s statement here. 

March 12, 2025

Americans for Medical Progress (AMP) issued statement today to correct misinformation circulating about “transgender mice” in research.

Recent claims about federally funded research on “transgender mice” are inaccurate and misleading. This research is not related to gender identity; instead, they are focused on studying biological and reproductive development. Some have suggested the intended term was “transgenic mice,” but that is also incorrect in this context. Transgenic mice are used across many scientific fields—including reproductive biology—and are organisms that allow researchers to study how changes in their genes drive health and disease in humans and animals. Recent news does not directly target transgenic organisms. Rather, it focuses on studies investigating natural hormonal and developmental processes.

To clarify, these mice are not “transgender” in any human or social context. Research in this field helps scientists understand how sex hormones function and their effect when things go wrong, particularly in diseases and conditions like endometriosis, infertility, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. This work provides hope to countless individuals, whether in growing their families or enabling people to live longer, healthier lives when faced with a cancer diagnosis.

For instance, one of the research grants recently mischaracterized examines how male hormones, known as “androgens,” affect female hormone levels in women using genetic, molecular, and neurological techniques. Funding for this research is crucial and has already provided valuable insights into treatment options for women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a common hormone disorder in women of reproductive age that causes severe pain and fertility complications.

To summarize, the research involving these mice is not about gender identity, but instead focuses on understanding important biological processes that affect health, disease, and reproduction. Misrepresenting this work will hinder our ability to protect our children and weaken progress toward improving the health and well-being of all individuals, regardless of background or belief.

For more information about the importance of animal research in medicine, visit Americans for Medical Progress.

Download a PDF of the press release here

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.  

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.

Click here to read the full press release.