Attachment 6 NIH Statement

NIH Will No Longer Support Biomedical Research on Chimpanzees | National Institutes ... Page 1 of 2

THE NIH DIRECTOR
November 17, 2015

NIH Will No Longer Support Biomedical Research on Chimpanzees
Research with non-human primates has and continues to be
vital to helping us understand and improve human health in
a multitude of ways, including the development of
treatments and interventions. However, use of non-human
primates needs to be supported by the science. It has been
two and half years since NIH announced its decision in June
2013 to significantly reduce the use of chimpanzees in
agency-supported biomedical research and retain only a
small population of chimpanzees for future biomedical
research. As part of this decision, NIH indicated it would
identify 50 chimpanzees that would be retained based on
the characteristics necessary to support the research of the
projects submitted, and periodically review this decision

Chimpanzees at Chimp Haven are often seen grooming and
playing with one another. Chimp Haven

based on scientific needs. To be considered, projects would
have to meet a strict set of principles and criteria, set forth
by the Institute of Medicine and accepted by the NIH, after having cleared scientific review. Since June 2013, based on
recommendations from the Council of Councils, NIH has phased out all previously active biomedical research protocols
using chimpanzees that did not meet the IOM principles and criteria, and no new biomedical research projects have been
approved.
Another major development occurred last summer. On June 16, 2015, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it
has designated captive chimpanzees as endangered. Among other things, this designation requires that researchers apply
for and obtain a permit to use captive chimpanzees in research if it could harm the animal. Up to this point, we are not
aware of any permits that have been sought for this purpose.
As a result of these numerous changes over the last few years and the significantly reduced demand for chimpanzees in
NIH-supported biomedical research, it is clear that we’ve reached a tipping point. In accordance with NIH’s commitment in
June 2013, I have reassessed the need to maintain chimpanzees for biomedical research and decided that effective
immediately, NIH will no longer maintain a colony of 50 chimpanzees for future research. All NIH-owned chimpanzees
that reside outside of the Federal Sanctuary System operated by Chimp Haven, Keithville, Louisiana, are now eligible for
retirement. Relocation of the chimpanzees to the Federal Sanctuary System will be conducted as space is available and on
a timescale that will allow for optimal transition of each individual chimpanzee with careful consideration of their welfare,
including their health and social grouping.
These decisions are specific to chimpanzees. Research with other non-human primates will continue to be valued,
supported, and conducted by the NIH.

https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director/statements/nih-will-no-longer-sup... 5/10/2017

NIH Will No Longer Support Biomedical Research on Chimpanzees | National Institutes ... Page 2 of 2

Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, National Institutes of Health

NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®
National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/who-we-are/nih-director/statements/nih-will-no-longer-sup... 5/10/2017