A recent opinion article in The Transmitter by US neuroscientists Cory Miller, from the University of California, San Diego, J. Anthony Movshon, from New York University, and Doris Tsao, from the University of California, Berkeley, raised concerns over the recent policy changes in Europe and the US that would scale back animal research – including in primates.  

They highlighted that research using monkeys is foundational to human research, stressing that future breakthroughs in neuroscience, such as “brain-machine interfaces, neurotherapeutics and biologically inspired artificial intelligence”, rely on monkey research. “If the NIH truly wants to emphasize human-based approaches, including monkey research is essential. Otherwise, the future of neuroscience is in doubt.” 

Even though research using monkeys is a small fraction of the NIH budget, it has resulted in many life-changing devices that are now making their way in the private sector. The authors point out that the type of work that has led to these discoveries would not be possible if it relied on private funding alone.  

“The stakes could not be higher. We are witnessing revolutions in neuroscience, medicine and AI, and monkey brain research is a vital engine powering them all… If we abandon this research now, we lose knowledge that would save lives and generate immense economic opportunity,” share the researchers, while referring to how China has strategically invested in primate research, intensifying global competition.