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USDA Confirms University of Washington Probe; Research Watchdog Calls for Independent Investigation of Cover-up FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ATTENTION: News Desk SEATTLE, WA – The United States Department of Agriculture has
confirmed that it will investigate a complaint filed by Research
Watchdog Organization SAEN. The complaint, filed October 12th, focused
on University of Washington researcher Michael Shadlen. UW internal documents revealed that Shadlen severely deprived macaque
monkeys of water, giving one monkey just over a pint of water for an
entire week. Several primates in his lab lost over 30% of their body
weight during the water deprivation. Shadlen may also be guilty of
performing unapproved surgeries, the same offense for which UW
researcher Albert Fuchs was cited as a result of a previous SAEN
complaint filed one year ago. "The practice of depriving primates of water is such a cruel practice
that it should not be allowed by government regulatory agencies," said
Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., SAEN's Executive Director. "If a private
individual deprived a companion animal of water in this way, they would
go to jail." SAEN has also contacted the office of UW President Mark Emmert,
requesting an independent investigation of the conduct of Sue Clausen
(UW Associate Vice President, Medical Affairs) and Nona Phillips
(Director, UW Office of Animal Welfare). Internal UW documentation indicates the possibility of a cover-up of
UW scientific malfeasance – one official was said to “keep her head in
the sand” while being aware that a UW researcher would “have to lie in
order to publish.” -30-
See Facility Reports and Information:
University of Washington - Seattle
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