Release & Restitution for Chimpanzees in U.S. Laboratories

Project R&R requested USDA inspection reports for the prior three years on June 17, 2004. Our request was deemed “missing” by USDA in May 2005 (via phone communication). We re-filed the same request on July 28, 2005 and received a response to this second request on November 4, 2005. Requests filed on January 8, 2007 were received on January 26, 2007.

(affiliated with the University of Texas)*

Approximate number of chimpanzees: 139

History & Profile

Working exclusively on cancer research, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (M.D. Anderson) “was created by the Texas Legislature in 1941, making it a com component of The University of Texas System.” (1) During the 1970s, a Department of Veterinary Sciences “was formed…to breed and raise animals for scientific research.” (2) In February 2005, the veterinary clinic (located in Bastrop, TX) was renamed the Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research as a memorial to the center’s former director. Although M.D. Anderson is devoted exclusively to cancer care and research, that is not the case with its affiliated animal research facility at Bastrop.

The chimpanzees at M.D. Anderson are housed in “eight 4,500-square-foot outdoor corrals in multiple-male family groups. (3)

Chimpanzee Use

According to the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a “demographically balanced group of…physically and behaviorally healthy chimpanzees” are available at M.D. Anderson “to meet current and future research and testing needs in the United States.” (4) “Chimpanzees are available to investigators funded by NIH grants and contracts.” (5)
Under an NIH grant (discussed below), the Primate Foundation of Arizona is “a subcontractor to the M.D. Anderson grant and maintains approximately 60 chimpanzees” in its Arizona facility. (6)

Research Profile

In 2000, M.D. Anderson stated that, “biomedical investigations currently underway include studies on Hepatitis B and C and HIV. Other investigations include diabetes, hypertension, obesity, vaccine development, aging, cellular immunology and behavior.” (7)

Principal areas of research:**

Infectious diseases (hepatitis, HIV, SIV, leprosy)
Vaccine development
Specific Pathogen Free primates
Synthetic peptide technology
Gene therapy for cervical cancer

Financials/Grants

In November 2000, M.D. Anderson was awarded a $19.5 million grant from NIH “to support its chimpanzee biomedical research program for the next five years.” (8) It announced that the grant “continues a long history of funding from NIH for the chimpanzee program,” and noted that the veterinary department “has held a grant or contract from the Center for Research Resources of NIH since 1976.” (9) For a list of grants awarded to M.D. Anderson between 2001-2006, click here.

Address

Christian R. Abee, DVM, Director
Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research
University of Texas, Department of Veterinary Sciences
Science Park, 650 Cool Water Drive, Bastrop, TX 78602
URL: http://www.mdanderson.org/ (This website is strictly for M.D. Anderson and does not include any information about the Bastrop veterinary department.)