In addition, animal studies can be much more controlled and the results more consistent than studies with humans. As scientists develop more alternatives to using monkeys and other animals in research, the numbers of animals needed for research are declining. However, in many cases, neither a computer nor a test tube can take the place of a living, complex biological system for learning more about a disease or for testing a vaccine or therapy. Our rhesus monkeys are mainly involved in projects aimed at making progress toward biomedical research goals, such as developing a vaccine for AIDS, understanding reproductive and genetic disorders, and answering other biological questions pertaining to primates. While too numerous to list here, many of these projects are described on our center's newsletter and research highlights Web pages.
Regulations governing research animal care and use are very strict.
In all cases, our animal care practices either meet or exceed the requirements of the Federal Animal Welfare Act. Research projects and animal care policies are regularly reviewed by center personnel, university committees, and goverment officials on site visits, including unannounced inspections. The center must also provide an annual report of its activites to the National Institutes of Health and the United States Congress every year. This typically involves blood, urine and tissue sampling for hormone levels, blood cell counts and other biomarkers, just as humans are tested in clinical settings Such testing helps us not only learn more about the animals' basic biological processes for research purposes, but also helps us take better care of the monkeys themselves. The monkeys must be treated humanely at all times.