The
Chimps Hear the Good News:
IOM
Concludes “…chimpanzees [are] not
necessary…”
BOSTON, MA—(December 15, 2011)—The National Academy
of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine (IOM) today released results of their nine-month
long study, called for by the NIH, to investigate the current and future need
for chimpanzees in research. The IOM concluded that ‘…most current biomedical research use of
chimpanzees is not necessary.’ The only exception was their “inconclusive”
decision (a 5-5 split) regarding a “narrow area” of hep C vaccine work.
Upon
reading the report, Theodora Capaldo, EdD, president of NEAVS
and its national campaign, Project
R&R: Release and Restitution for Chimpanzees in U.S. Laboratories, stated, “This pivotal report is the first
step toward ending all chimpanzee research in U.S. laboratories. The science
guided the IOM to its conclusion that they are ‘not necessary’—a promising outcome
for chimpanzees and better science for humans.”
Jarrod Bailey, PhD,
geneticist and NEAVS/Project R&R Science Director noted,
“The IOM’s conclusions show
understanding of the scientific and factual testimony provided. While the committee
did not go far enough to endorse an ‘outright ban,’ it noted that, ‘the present
trajectory of scientific research indicates a decreasing need for the use of
chimpanzees.’ And, that ‘Past Use Fails to Predict Future Necessity.’ This is
all encouraging and truly the beginning of the end of chimpanzee use.”
NEAVS/Project R&R believes
that if the IOM’s recommended and restrictive criteria for proposals for new
chimpanzee research are scrupulously applied, they will in fact end all
chimpanzee use. Said Bailey, “It cannot be demonstrated that any chimpanzee
research would meet all of these criteria. This criteria will de facto be an end to all invasive
chimpanzee research.”
NEAVS/Project R&R’s team of chimpanzee
experts includes Gloria Grow, Fauna Sanctuary founder. Grow, appointed co-chair
of Project R&R, listened while the IOM webcast announced its results. When
the webcast ended, she spoke about Tom, a Fauna chimpanzee who is named Project
R&R’s Ambassador. Grow shared,
“I have always felt that the chimps who have died are
watching over the others. Now, I believe that even more. I am so glad this news
came this month—this very good news that is the beginning of the end and hope for the
future of all those still in labs, including so many of our chimps’ family members.
It is fitting
that this falls at the anniversary time of Tom's passing two years ago in
December. I am happy for Tom and for all who will one day soon see justice
done.” She added, “I
am going to go now and tell the chimps.”
NEAVS/Project
R&R deems the IOM report—along with other scientific, public and legislator
support—as instrumental to passage
of the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act (H.R.1513/S.810), the bill now
before Congress that will end the use of all great apes in invasive research
and retire federally owned chimpanzees to sanctuary. Meanwhile, Tom remains forever close to us as the symbol
of our mission.
NEAVS (New England Anti-Vivisection Society) is a national 501(c)3 not
for profit headquartered in Boston, MA a hub for animal research and
biotechnology. Please visit neavs.org
and NEAVS/Project R&R’s comprehensive website on chimpanzees
in research releasechimps.org.
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