The Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) has recently made a significant decision regarding its controversial primate research center. The university has decided to abandon its plan to convert the center into a sanctuary for thousands of animals, citing a lack of federal funding as the primary reason. This decision comes as a result of internal discussions and an email from the center's director, Dr. Rudolf 'Skip' Bohm Jr., confirming the change in direction. The sanctuary proposal had been a central part of OHSU's strategy to address political pressure and avoid an immediate shutdown of the research center.
The primate research center, located in Hillsboro, houses nearly 5,000 monkeys and baboons, and employs around 300 people. The center's future has been a subject of debate, with animal welfare organizations advocating for a phase-out of primate research in favor of alternative methods. Advances in human tissue models and artificial intelligence have been proposed as potential replacements for animal studies.
However, scientists at the center argue that no validated alternatives exist for many areas of biomedical research, and that nonhuman primates remain essential for developing new treatments. The pressure on OHSU intensified during its merger talks with Legacy Health, where national animal rights groups used the state's regulatory review process to push for the center's closure. This led to Gov. Tina Kotek and state lawmakers directing the university to study the center's finances and prepare contingency plans in case federal research funding dropped sharply.
In February, OHSU's board authorized President Dr. Shereef Elnahal to negotiate with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) over a possible transition to a sanctuary. The vote did not commit the university to ending primate research, but rather gave Elnahal six months to explore the possibility of federal funding to support the transition. The estimated cost of converting the center into a sanctuary was between $220 million and $291 million over eight years, with significant ongoing animal care costs.
During a meeting with faculty leaders in May, Elnahal emphasized that there would be 'no deal' unless the federal government fully funded the transition. This decision reflects the challenges of balancing scientific research with ethical considerations, and highlights the complex nature of funding and resource allocation in academic institutions.
