On Monday, February 9, 2026, the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Board of Directors voted unanimously to pass a resolution that authorizes negotiations with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) regarding a possible transition of the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) into a primate sanctuary.
The ONPRC is one of the largest of the federally-funded primate research facilities in the United States, where roughly 5,000 monkeys are currently held and used for breeding and invasive research. The NIH has bankrolled the ONPRC from its inception and remains its primary funder.
Thousands of Rise for Animals’ supporters took action urging the Board to support this resolution, and we’re certain this collective pressure helped move the Board to act.
But, while the Board’s vote is meaningful, we know it is not the finish line. Large numbers of impassioned ONPRC supporters attended and testified at the Board hearing, and, before the resolution’s passage, it was amended in ways that weakened its effect.
The Board itself specifically cautioned that the resolution does not represent a determination, but, rather, the beginning of a process.
The resolution does not guarantee closure of the primate breeding center or lab or its transition to a sanctuary. What it does mean is that OHSU and the NIH may now formally enter discussions about the ONPRC’s future—something that may not have happened without public pressure.
We’re encouraged, cautious, and deeply committed to what comes next.
The Board’s vote creates an opening rather than a conclusion. The thousands of nonhuman primates still exploited and imprisoned for experiments at ONPRC deserve more than conversations—they deserve real, lasting change. We will continue pushing to ensure these discussions lead to beneficial outcomes for the animals whose lives are at stake. We’ll keep you informed every step of the way.
If you were among those who took action by writing to the OHSU Board of Directors in support of this resolution, thank you for showing up when it matters most. This progress for animals belongs to you.
Your Call to Action: Macaque monkeys are facing massive population declines, driven in part by the research industry’s demand for them as test subjects. Send your letter now to demand that long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques be added to the list of endangered species, granting them protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
✍️ Protect Endangered Macaques