Animal‑rights groups say NIH approved millions for primate experiments despite pledge to cut animal research

Animal‑rights groups say recent NIH awards contradict the agency’s pledge to reduce primate research, pointing to a July NIAID $1.4 million award and a University of Pittsburgh kidney‑transplant project slated to receive $10.1 million through 2030 that will use about 99 monkeys from supplier Alpha Genesis (at roughly $10,000 per animal), while watchdog White Coat Waste compiled roughly $91 million in recent NIH animal‑research spending. The reports come as the NIH and administration signal plans to phase out dogs, cats and primates — and the VA ends primate research — even as about 4,000 rhesus monkeys live on Morgan Island and NIH director Jay Bhattacharya says the agency is steering projects toward alternatives; nearly $28 million in federal animal‑testing grants were also canceled per a CBS/Post and Courier investigation.