The Oregon Health & Science University board of directors on Monday, Feb. 9, will hold a special public meeting to consider a resolution to enter negotiations with the National Institutes of Health about transitioning the Oregon National Primate Research Center to a primate sanctuary.
The meeting comes after the NIH approached OHSU with the potential to provide federal support for the shift. The board of directors sees the need to discuss.
In addition to possible support for transitioning from primate research, NIH may explore the possibility of investing in other areas of science OHSU, including biofabrication, gene therapy, and other non-animal models.
There currently is no agreement between NIH and OHSU. Any negotiations authorized by the board would center on efforts to protect the careers of OHSU West Campus employees, both AFSCME and research faculty; protect care for the animals; and seek long-term investments in both the facility and its science at OHSU more generally.
The OHSU board chair, vice chair and president released the following letter to the OHSU community and wider public:
Dear members of the OHSU community and the public,
OHSU has long been committed to advancing science in service of human health, guided by both rigorous evidence and a responsibility to reflect the values of the communities we serve. The Oregon National Primate Research Center has contributed meaningfully to that mission over many decades, and we recognize the importance of its work and the people behind it.
We also recognize that science evolves. Advances in technology, changes in ethical standards, and shifting public expectations are shaping how research is conducted across the country. Increasingly, federal and state leaders, including leadership at the National Institutes of Health, are emphasizing novel and human-based research methods and signaling a desire to reduce reliance on non-human primate studies.
In this context, the NIH has approached OHSU to explore whether federal support could be available to transition the Oregon National Primate Research Center to a primate sanctuary. This possibility raises complex questions and understandably prompts a range of perspectives.
The OHSU Board of Directors believes that such a consequential issue warrants open, transparent discussion. The Board will therefore hold a special public meeting on Feb. 9 at 10:00 a.m. to consider a resolution that would allow OHSU to enter into negotiations with the NIH regarding a potential transition.
This resolution would not predetermine the future of ONPRC. Rather, it would allow OHSU to engage in discussions to understand what a transition could entail and to define what the institution would need to protect and advance its mission. Any consideration would prioritize scientific integrity, ethical responsibility, support for faculty and staff, the humane and continuous care of the primate population through any transition and beyond, and OHSU's role as a leader at the forefront of emerging science.
OHSU has always advanced by leading, rather than waiting for consensus to catch up. Scientific progress, ethical understanding, and public expectations do not stand still, and neither can institutions that are committed to excellence. As new research approaches emerge and perspectives on non-human primate studies continue to evolve, the Board believes that OHSU has a responsibility to engage proactively and ensure that OHSU continues to be a leader in defining the future of research.
OHSU has a long history of navigating change thoughtfully and responsibly, and we approach this moment in that same spirit. We invite members of the community to share their perspectives through written testimony or by providing comment at the Feb. 9 meeting. Instructions can be found here. The meeting will be open to the public, and participation is welcome either virtually or in person.
Sincerely,
Susan King, M.S., RN, CEN, FAAN
Chair, OHSU Board of Directors
Justin Hurley Braswell, M.B.A.
Vice Chair, OHSU Board of Directors
Shereef Elnahal, M.D., M.B.A.
President, OHSU
