The board of directors at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) voted unanimously on Monday to continue animal testing at the Oregon National Primate Research Center. The decision reverses a February vote to explore converting the facility into a non-research sanctuary for its more than 5,500 primates. University officials cited a lack of federal funding and a commitment to scientific research as the primary reasons for maintaining operations.
The shift comes amid a broader national debate over the use of animals in medical and scientific research. While the Trump administration has publicly encouraged the development of alternatives to animal testing, such as artificial intelligence and "organ-on-a-chip" technology, it has also proposed significant budget cuts for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the primary federal funder of such research. Last year, the Oregon State Legislature requested a closure plan for the center in the event that federal support was withdrawn.
OHSU President Shereef Elnahal stated that the university could not justify the financial burden of a sanctuary without federal assistance. A consulting report commissioned by the university estimated that converting the center into a sanctuary would cost between $220 million and $291 million over the first eight years. Elnahal also noted that ending the research would weaken the nation's scientific capacity, as primate models are currently used to test the safety of drugs and treatments before human trials.
The scale of the financial impact is centered on the $220 million to $291 million estimated conversion cost, which breaks down to roughly $27.5 million to $36 million per year over the initial eight-year period. Without a dedicated federal grant to cover these costs, the university determined the expense would likely fall on state taxpayers or the institution's internal budget. For the public, this highlights a gap between federal policy goals—which favor ending animal testing—and the actual appropriation of funds needed to decommission existing facilities or care for animals no longer used in experiments.
The knock-on effects of OHSU’s decision may influence the six other university-affiliated primate centers facing similar political pressure. While technology like "human organ chips" is advancing, experts like Harvard professor Don Ingber note that these alternatives are not yet ready to replace behavioral or pregnancy-related research. What happens next depends on the federal budget process; while the NIH stated it has not yet received a formal sanctuary proposal from OHSU, it continues to review its grant policies. Future deadlines for federal research funding in the next fiscal year will determine whether the center continues to receive the NIH support necessary to maintain its current operations.