Why Primates?

Virtually every major medical advance of the last century is founded on animal research. The knowledge gained through such research has led to the ability to treat, prevent or eradicate diseases that once killed millions of people every year. Animal research has resulted in many lifesaving treatments and therapies for pets and farm animals as well.

For studying many human diseases, there is no better animal model than nonhuman primates. Humans and monkeys bear a close genetic relationship, reflected in many anatomical, behavioral, developmental and physiological similarities. Because of this relationship, nonhuman primates have played a critical role in biomedical and behavioral research.

Nonhuman primates represent only about one third of one percent of animals used in biomedical research.

For example, monkeys are susceptible to an immunodeficiency virus similar to HIV, making them ideal for the study of AIDS and potential vaccines and treatments.

Similarities in the central motor pathways between monkeys and humans have led to the development of safe and effective interventions to slow the progress of Parkinson's disease.

Monkeys in breeding colonies can live well past their normal lifespan in the wild, providing opportunities for research into diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, that are associated with aging.

Monkeys are the only mammalian animal model with menstrual cycles and hormonal patterns comparable to humans. Thus, reproductive research provides crucial insights into fertility, pregnancy and menopause.

These are just a few examples of how research in nonhuman primates has extended our fundamental knowledge of how the human body functions in health and disease.