Here’s a roundup of the latest, biggest news stories related to animal research—all the recent media coverage you need to know right now to be the most effective activist for animals in labs.
No Sanctuary at Oregon’s National Primate Research Center
Lindsey Soffes, Rise for Animals, 7/29/2026
OHSU’s primate research center is not becoming a sanctuary.
Its new resolution sets no firm timeline, guarantees no animals sanctuary, and preserves primate experimentation.
Thousands of monkeys remain trapped. Nearly every meaningful question remains unanswered. 📰 Full Story →
Inside the Poll Built to Save an Oregon Primate Lab
Lindsey Soffes, Rise for Animals, 7/30/2026
A new industry-backed Ipsos poll claims Americans support animal research—but its sponsor, sample, and leading questions suggest it was built to shape public opinion, not measure it. 📰 Full Story →
Oregon initiative that would have banned most killing of animals won’t be on November ballots
Julia Shumway, Oregon Capital Chronicle, 7/24/2026
“Oregonians won’t vote in November on whether to ban hunting, fishing, livestock farming and animal research after backers of a widely criticized initiative failed to gather enough valid signatures to make the ballot.”
“This was the third election cycle that animal rights advocates have introduced a version of the initiative, and the closest they’ve come to making the ballot.” 📰 Full Story →
Springfield native confronts animal testing in documentary ‘The New Gold Standard’
Staasi Heropoulos, Mass Live, 7/26/2026
“[Documentarian Steven] Latham’s latest work, ‘The New Gold Standard: Cutting Edge Science That’s Replacing Animal Testing,’ will be released in the fall. In the film, Latham reveals a range of companies are developing new technologies that are shattering animal testing’s reputation as the gold standard in medical and consumer product exploration.”
“Latham said he and the more than 100 people he interviewed say these testing methods can not only replace animal testing but can offer quicker and more accurate results. ‘The big challenges, which everybody has known for years and years, is the limitations of animal research. A dog is not a person. A pig is not a person. It’s like comparing apples to chainsaws,’ he said.”
“ . . . he also made note of major players and their backers that have a valuable stake in animal testing are trying to block humane methods and preserve the painful protocols. ‘There’s no question that is happening as we speak. Industry groups funded by pharma and the animal testing industry are actively lobbying on Capitol Hill to keep animal testing, but the cracks are already happening in this whole industry,’ Latham said.” 📰 Full Story →
Ridglan Farms lead veterinarian ‘permanently revoked’
Bryan Polcyn, FOX6 Milwaukee, 7/28/2026
“The man in charge of Ridglan Farms will never be able to practice veterinary medicine again. At least, not in Wisconsin. The state’s Veterinary Examining Board voted Tuesday, July 28, to permanently revoke Richard Van Domelen’s license for ‘unprofessional conduct.’”
“For the past two years, state regulators have been investigating claims that Van Domelen delegated hundreds of eye surgeries, vocal cord removals and dental extractions to non-veterinarians, many of whom failed to use proper anesthesia.” 📰 Full Story →
Tracking Trump’s push against animal testing
Sophie Gardner & Kelly Hooper, Politico, 7/29/2026
“The Trump administration got on the good side of animal welfare advocates last year when it decided to phase out testing on monkeys at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and asked an Oregon research center whether it could transition into a research animal sanctuary. . . . In 2026, animal welfare groups have continued to push the Trump administration and Congress to end the practice of animal testing — with mixed results.”
“The Oregon National Primate Research Center won’t become an animal sanctuary, according to a vote taken by the Oregon Health & Science University board of directors this week. . . . The House passed a bill last week that would direct the Food and Drug Administration to publish an interim final rule that would replace references to animal testing with a reference to ‘nonclinical’ testing. It does not prohibit animal testing or require drugmakers to utilize alternative methods. . . . In June, the NIH announced the creation of a new office, the Office of Research Innovation, Validation, and Application, to speed up the development of animal testing alternatives.” 📰 Full Story →
Camp Beagle wins High Court judicial review challenge
John Elworthy, CambNews, 7/30/2026
“Campaigners from Camp Beagle in Wyton near Huntingdon have won permission to bring a High Court judicial review challenge against the Government’s decision to classify animal testing facilities as ‘key national infrastructure’, in a case that could have significant implications for protest rights across the UK.”
“The judicial review is based on two principal grounds. First, the claim argues that the definition of ‘life sciences infrastructure’ goes beyond the ordinary meaning of infrastructure and that Parliament intended the list of key national infrastructure in the Public Order Act to be limited to infrastructure that is ‘essential to national life.’ Second, the claim contends that the Secretary of State failed to conduct a lawful consultation before introducing the regulations. While there was engagement with representatives of the life sciences industry, the claim alleges that no consultation took place with animal rights organisations and campaign groups who could be directly affected by the changes.”
“In a separate statement, Lawyers for Animals argued that the case raises broader constitutional concerns about the Government’s use of secondary legislation. The organisation said: ‘Our challenge targets the government’s use of secondary legislation to bypass full democratic debate and create sweeping new criminal offences.’” 📰 Full Story →
PETA: Monkey loses arm due to staff failures at UW-Madison; PETA urges federal probe
PETA, WisPolitics, 7/30/2026
“In a letter sent today, PETA urges the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to investigate likely violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) after multiple fights among caged, stressed monkeys at the federally funded Wisconsin National Primate Research Center caused severe injuries, including the amputation of one monkey’s arm.”
“PETA obtained records showing that a rhesus macaque was attacked in January by a monkey in an adjacent cage through an unsecured food-delivery opening, resulting in injuries so severe that the macaque’s arm had to be amputated. A month later, staff failed to secure interlocking doors between two cages, and macaques fought, leaving one with a traumatic oral injury requiring extensive treatment. Frightened, traumatized monkeys in small, confined spaces are known to attack other monkeys, making the regulation for secure housing crucial.” 📰 Full Story →