Washington National Primate Research Center

The WaNPRC performs various studies on primates' brains, which often require cutting into the skulls of the primates and surgically implanting electrodes into their brains.

A 2018 study examined the effects of fetuses not getting enough oxygen to the brain (hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy). This study involved four macaques. While still fetuses, researchers deprived the macaques of oxygen by surgically clamping their umbilical cords for 18 minutes. The macaques were then delivered earlier than normal by cesarean section, after which they had to be resuscitated. Researchers then monitored the macaques using various techniques, including implanting electrodes into their scalps. For the first three days of their lives, researchers deprived the macaques of oxygen by restricting their oxygen input to 8% for three minutes up to eight times daily. The macaques were kept alive for eight days, during which time some macaques developed seizures. At eight days of age, the macaques were euthanized and their bodies were further studied. Additionally, researchers compared these results to two "control" macaques who were euthanized immediately after birth.[9]

A 2018 study examined the lateral intraparietal cortex of macaques' brains. The macaques in the study had electrodes surgically implanted in their brains, and researchers recorded the macaques' neurons while the macaques performed a task in which they visually tracked objects.[10]

A 2019 study examined stimulating the outer layer of macaques' brains (with beta stimulation). Stimulation was delivered by surgically opening the macaques skulls (via a craniotomy) and inserting electrodes into the macaques' brains.[11]

A 2018 study examined amblyopia (commonly called "lazy eye") in macaques. To give young macaques amblyopia, researchers surgically cut retinal muscles of some macaques, and made other macaques wear special contact lenses for 6-7 months which induced amblyopia.[12]

A 2018 study examined how primate retina perceive color. The study involved removing the eyes of anesthetized monkeys and cutting out several parts of the eyes so they could be studied.[13]

During the 1990s, UW's facility in Medical Lake, WA was at the center of several controversies. From 1990 to 1995, at least eighteen primates died from thirst and dehydration.From 1990 through 1994, death rates of animals from non-experimental causes at the Medical Lake breeding facility were twice the rates from simple aging.[8] Additionally, diarrhea was a common problem among the primates, and at one point there was only one working veterinarian responsible for as many as 1,500 primates.

In 2008, the NIH revealed that researchers at UW had performed several unauthorized surgeries on monkeys. The investigation revealed that five UW researchers had performed 41 unauthorized surgeries on 14 monkeys.[14] Komo news also reported that the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) had ignored warnings about these sorts of issues.

In 2009, a primate starved to death in UW's captivity, which resulted in a USDA fine of $10,893.[15]

From May to June 2013, there were three separate incidents of young macaques being attacked and killed by adult macaques. On May 2, a 1-month old macaque was severely injured shortly after it and its mother were introduced to a group of other macaques. The infant was then euthanized. On May 30, a 6-month old macaque was attacked by the adult male in its group and died. On June 12, a 9-month old macaque was attacked by an adult male and had to be euthanized.[16]

In July 2015, a USDA inspection revealed that the center's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) had approved three protocols with incomplete descriptions, one of which led three primates having severe health issues and having to be euthanized.[17][18] The first protocol involved surgical incisions, but did not provide information about the length or location of the incisions. The second protocol involved skull, arm, and vertebral implants, but lacked information about the size and location of the incisions, as well as what type of instrumentation was to be implanted. As a result, three of the primates used in this protocol had severe health issues and had to be euthanized. The third protocol involved skull implants, but lacked a description of the size and locations of the implants. It was noted in the report that one primate in this study had been subjected to surgery on a large portion of its skull, and as a result, the animal's eyebrow appeared to be depressed.

On December 12, 2016, a primate died under anesthesia during an MRI-related procedure. It was revealed that anesthetic monitoring records were not kept during the surgery, which prompted a review that revealed that anesthetic methods for MRI procedures were partially incomplete over the last year.[19]

On January 17, 2017, an 8-year-old female pigtail macaque died of dehydration as the result of the water line in its cage being disconnected for two to three days. This incident was partially the result of the WaNPRC not having cleaned or sanitized the macaque's cage for 17 days prior to the incident. If the cage had been cleaned every two weeks, as is required, it is believed that the disconnected water line would have been discovered, and the death would not have happened.[20][18]

In April 2018, a pigtail macaque accidentally strangled itself using a chain adjacent to its cage. The USDA reported that the chain was not installed properly. The macaque's social partner witnessed the death.[21][22][23]

In 2019, a primate died during surgery due to the fact that it had not been fasted prior to surgery. As a result, the animal vomited and choked to death.[24]

In 2019, a drug vial was found to be diluted, which resulted in a primate possibly receiving less than the recommended dose of analgesic. This may have resulted in the animal experiencing pain during surgery. As a result, the employee responsible for the incident was fired. Additionally, an inspection discovered that a controlled drug cabinet had been left open and unattended with a key in the lock.[24]

In January 2021, the USDA reported that a macaque had been left in a trapping run for 12 hours, without access to food or water. This incident was due to a mistake by the staff and resulted in the macaque being dehydrated.[25]

In January 2021, the USDA reported that a macaque broke the locks between two cages and escaped into a room, which resulted in injuries to seven primates.[25]

In August 2021, the USDA reported that the temperature in a room containing 14 macaques was left irregularly high over the course of several days. Although there was an alarm to alert of high temperatures, it did not work and the facility manager said he did not know when it stopped working.[26]

In August 2021, the USDA reported that a building containing over 200 macaques had a significant amount of rodent feces in the ceiling lights and on the floor in many locations.[26]

In October 2021, a report by The Arizona Republic revealed that the water supply for monkeys at the breeding facility in Arizona, which comes from groundwater wells at the site, had been contaminated with lead, perchorate, and other chemicals.[27] These chemicals had been leached into the water from nearby defense contractor Nammo. Furthermore, the report revealed that monkeys had been getting sick and dying from valley fever at high rates.

In December 2021, a report by The Arizona Republic revealed that UW had failed to notify the Washington Department of Agriculture that several of its primates being transported from its breeding facility in Arizona to their lab in Washington had valley fever, which has been rampant in the breeding facility.[28] Additionally, UW had broken several laws as it failed to provide both certificates of veterinary inspection as well as entry permits for many of the primates being transported. Furthermore, it was revealed that UW hadn't obtained entry permits for transported primates since 2014.

In December 2021, the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) started an investigation of UW's breeding facility in Arizona as a result of the October 2021 report from The Arizona Republic and a complaint filed by PETA.[29][30]