Atlanta, Georgia — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will end all research involving nonhuman primates at its facilities, a significant shift in federal health policy. This decision, unprecedented since the National Institutes of Health ceased its chimpanzee research in 2015, reflects growing criticisms of animal research practices and the quest for more relevant scientific alternatives.

Approximately 200 macaques are currently housed at the CDC’s Atlanta campus. A spokesperson stated that a plan is being devised to wind down the program, although no specific timeline or details regarding the future of the animals were shared.

Critics, including animal welfare advocates and some scientists, have long argued that research using monkey models has offered limited benefits, especially concerning HIV vaccine development, where decades of studies have failed to produce a licensed product. The CDC’s decision is driven by ethical considerations and a strategic shift towards more contemporary research methods, such as organ-on-chip technology and advanced computational models.

Moreover, the CDC has faced challenges regarding biosecurity in its handling of imported primates. Internal documents reveal that between 2021 and 2024, 69 cases of tuberculosis were detected during the quarantine screening of incoming macaques, with an additional 16 cases found after the animals were released into laboratories.

Dr. Jones-Engel from PETA remarked that the organization had warned the CDC about the potential dangers of its monkey import practices. She highlighted the risks posed by these imports, urging the CDC to halt the importation of monkeys to laboratories to protect public safety and uphold scientific standards.

This shift at the CDC is in line with broader federal efforts to minimize the use of animal testing. The Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act 2.0, enacted in 2022, eliminated the requirement for animal testing prior to human trials, while various federal agencies have prioritized funding for non-animal research methodologies.

Janine McCarthy, acting director of research policy for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, hailed the CDC’s decision as historic and indicative of a move towards modern, human-focused science. She emphasized the importance of reallocating funding towards transitioning to research that is more relevant to human health and called for the monkeys to be relocated to sanctuaries for the remainder of their lives.

McCarthy also stated that this move sends a clear message to the biomedical community: the practice of monkey experimentation is evolving away from outdated methodologies. As the CDC shifts its focus, it signals a commitment to embracing innovative research approaches that may offer more substantial benefits for human health and safety.