PrimeMeet Europe, held on 26-27 May in Haarlem, the Netherlands, brought together representatives from primate centres, academia, industry, breeding companies and research organisations to discuss the future of non-human primate (NHP) research in Europe and strengthen collaboration across the field. 

The meeting, organised by the Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC) and supported by EU-Simia, EARA and several European primate centres, focused on the role of NHPs in areas such as neuroscience, infectious diseases and translational medicine, alongside discussions on animal welfare, public outreach and data sharing. 

Researchers highlighted how NHP studies continue to play an important role in the development of vaccines, gene therapies and treatments that cannot yet be adequately studied using other models alone. Speakers also stressed the importance of combining NHP research with New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), including stem cell and organ-on-a-chip technologies, to improve biomedical research while further advancing the 3Rs principles. 

Participants also emphasised the importance of involving the wider public in discussions about biomedical research, highlighting opportunities for collaboration with EARA’s Patient Discovery Project, which strengthens dialogue between researchers and people with lived experience, empowering patients to make informed decisions and engage meaningfully with biomedical research. 

The meeting concluded with the signing of the first Joint Declaration on European Collaboration in Primate Research and Innovation, which reaffirms the commitment of European primate centres to the 3Rs, best standards of animal welfare and greater cooperation between institutions. 

“Maintaining Europe's capacity to conduct non-human primate research is not only a question of scientific excellence — it is a question of sovereignty and resilience. Without it, Europe cannot independently develop the diagnostics, vaccines and therapies it needs when the next health crisis arrives,” said Kirk Leech, EARA Executive Director.