{
  "id": 13022847,
  "title": "What if nonhuman primate research goes away?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/what-if-nonhuman-primate-research-goes-away",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-09T04:00:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Transmitter",
    "slug": "the-transmitter",
    "url": "https://www.thetransmitter.org/what-if-nonhuman-primate-research-goes-away/what-if-nonhuman-primate-research-goes-away/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The U.S. government is phasing out the use of nonhuman primates in research, prompting The Transmitter to examine the potential implications for neuroscience. In recent years, the federal government has taken various actions to reduce animal research and focus on alternative methodologies, such as computational modeling and organoids. Primates have been especially at risk: the CDC ceased its primate research program and the NIH approached a national primate research center to transform it into an animal sanctuary. Moreover, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed his deep commitment to ending animal experimentation and closing all research-related monkey imports.\n\nTo assess whether neuroscience still relies on nonhuman primates and if alternative techniques can replace them, The Transmitter reviewed numerous research papers and government documents and interviewed over 40 scientists. The outlet plans to release four installments detailing its findings, with the first two published today. The first installment explores the outstanding questions in neuroscience that necessitate the use of primates, while the second installment focuses on the challenges facing the U.S. national primate research center program. Subsequent stories will delve into the evolving landscape of autism monkey models and the efforts to address the limitations of organoids.",
  "summary": "As the U.S. government takes steps to stop using nonhuman primates in research, The Transmitter investigates what that shift could mean for neuroscience.",
  "key_points": [
    "U.S. government phasing out nonhuman primate research",
    "CDC ceased primate research program, NIH transformed center into sanctuary",
    "Four-part series examines implications for neuroscience and alternatives"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The US government's phase-out of nonhuman primate research shifts focus to alternative methods like computational modeling and organoids, likely transforming neuroscience research and benefiting animal welfare advocates.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}