President Nathan O. Hatch
Wake Forest University
211 Reynolda Hall
P.O. Box 7226
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
President Hatch,
I am contacting you today in regard to experimental procedures used
by several researchers at the Wake Forest University. The primary
researcher in question is: Terrence R. Stanford. This research project
uses macaque monkeys in procedures that are highly questionable from a
scientific point of view, and are also highly stressful and painful for
the primates.
For your information, this project involves literally bolting
restraining bars and recording cylinders to their skulls, depriving
primates of water for extended periods of time, and confining them to
restraint chairs (see: J Neurophysiol 90: 2029-2052, 2003). According to
statements from experts in veterinary medicine these procedures
definitely cause pain and distress, and some experts even consider them
to be unethical (see attachments).
I am concerned that these experiments may lead to Animal Welfare Act
violations within Wake Forest University labs. As you know, according to
the Animal Welfare Act:
Sec. 2.36 Annual report.
(7) State the common names and the numbers of animals upon which
teaching, experiments, research, surgery, or tests were conducted
involving accompanying pain or distress to the animals and for which the
use of appropriate anesthetic, analgesic, or tranquilizing drugs would
have adversely affected the procedures, results, or interpretation of
the teaching, research, experiments, surgery, or tests. An explanation
of the procedures producing pain or distress in these animals and the
reasons such drugs were not used shall be attached to the annual report;
It is clear that the experiments of the project listed above would
fall into the category of unrelieved pain and distress for the animals
involved. Failure to accurately report this experiment to the USDA is a
violation of the Animal Welfare Act.
I am also concerned that Wake Forest researchers may be violating
regulations for proper watering of primates as a part of the experiment
that utilizes water deprivation.
In light of these issues, I officially request that your office
suspend this project while instituting an investigation to ascertain
whether it is following all legal requirements. I also officially
request the opportunity to tour the laboratories in question, and
examine the veterinary records for the macaque monkeys used in this
experiment.
I would also like to request a meeting with Wake Forest University
officials to discuss the permanent elimination of such research
practices at Wake Forest University. To prevent any confusion about
these issues, the procedures that should be eliminated from all Wake
Forest University laboratories are:
1. The use of food and/or water deprivation in non-human primates for
any reason but pre-surgical fasting. Depriving non-human primates of
sustenance for extended periods as is currently practiced at Wake Forest
University laboratories is inhumane, unethical, and has been declared
causative of pain and distress by scientific experts.
2. The surgical attachment of devices such as restraining bars and
recording cylinders to the skulls of non-human primates. These devices
have also been declared by experts to cause pain and or distress in
primates.
3. The use of primate restraint chairs in projects involving
non-human primates. These devices severely restrict the movement of
primates and have been declared by experts to cause substantial
distress.
Wake Forest University uses a over 1300 primates in experiments every
year. I believe it is very likely that some of these animals are killed
unnecessarily, when they could be retired to a primate sanctuary to live
out their lives in a place that is designed to meet their needs.
Therefore, I respectfully request that the Wake Forest University
institute a fully funded retirement program for all primates that are
not currently utilized in ongoing research projects.
I will look forward to your response within five business days.
With Respect For All Life,
Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T.,
Executive Director, SAEN
See also : Wake Forest University,
Winston-Salem, NC
