The Dutch Senate has approved the 2026 budget for Education and Science, including a controversial amendment that will end public funding for primate research at the Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC) by 2030. Starting in 2026, the BPRC must redirect 40% of its subsidy to alternative research methods, increasing by 20% every year. 

The first EU-Simia Japan meeting took place at CNRS headquarters in Paris on 27-28 October 2025, gathering over 100 scientists specialising in primate biomedical research. Japanese researchers presented work on immunology, development, neurodegenerative diseases and decision-making mechanisms, while European and North American colleagues shared progress in vaccine therapies and neuro-technologies. 

The New Democratic Party in Canada has launched a petition calling on the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to halt primate imports for biomedical research, based on a conflation of unproven allegations that could cost lives. While the petition is wrapped in animal conservation language, it conveniently ignores the millions of human lives saved by the very research it seeks to abolish. 

A new survey by the Netherlands National Committee for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes (NCad) has revealed that a substantial proportion of Dutch academics remain doubtful about the prospect of animal-free science.  

Queen’s University, an EARA member, has strongly defended its decades-long use of dogs in biomedical research, following Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s announcement that the province will introduce legislation to ban the use of dogs and cats in science.

The European Animal Research Association (EARA) expresses deep concern over recent statements by Ontario Premier Doug Ford regarding biomedical research involving dogs.   

Researchers across the globe wrote a position paper regarding the critical role of non-human primates (NHP) in advancing Parkinson’s disease and research on ageing.

A new survey conducted on behalf of the Dutch Research Council (NWO) has revealed that a large majority (87%) of Dutch researchers across disciplines believe that non-human primate (NHP) research continues to address key questions in their fields.

Senators from diverse Dutch political parties have delayed a vote on the 2025 budget of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), which included a gradual reduction in funding for primate research.