Here’s a roundup of the week’s 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.
Pig Livers Outside, Cash Inside: Biotech’s “New” Grab
Rise for Animals, 5/29/2025
The FDA just greenlit a grotesque trial: biotech firms like eGenesis are attaching genetically-modified pig livers outside of living humans. This isn’t progress — it’s profit-driven animal exploitation masquerading as medicine. Learn the disturbing truth behind this billion-dollar industry. 📰 Full Story →
AMP to NIH: “Keep Torturing Animals, But Call it Progress”
Rise for Animals, 5/27/2025
See how Americans for Medical Progress (AMP), an industry trade group, manipulates public opinion, defends animal experimentation, and blocks ethical, human-relevant science. 📰 Full Story →
House Republicans Move to Cut Funding to ‘Transgender Animal Research’
Jeff Charles, Townhall, 5/24/2025
“It is absolutely ridiculous that one would even have to write an article about this, but here we are. House Republicans are trying to include a provision in Fiscal Year 2026’s spending bills that would ban federal funding for research experiments on transgender animals.”
“I’m not sure which is more disturbing, the fact that our government was using federal funds for this purpose in the first place, or the reality that such a provision would be needed in case it decides to do so again.” 📰 Full Story →
Opinion: About 100,000 monkeys are captive in U.S. labs; we urge a shift to humane, human-based research
Emily Takington, DVM, & Mikalah Singer, Lookout Santa Cruz, 5/27/2025
“In 2018, I (Talkington) observed and collected noninvasive fecal and urine samples for cortisol (stress hormone) detection in a group of wild long-tailed macaques in East Malaysia. I subsequently learned that all the macaques had been captured and placed into breeding colonies or sent to the United States for biomedical research . . . These once-free animals were subjected to terrifying transit and brought to their new lives in cold metal cages and unknown locations of concrete biomedical research laboratory facilities. Unfortunately, lack of transparency makes it difficult to ascertain which biomedical laboratory the monkeys are transported to. Their natural existence and autonomy get replaced with captive breeding plans and invasive, painful and deadly procedures. They go from individuals with a life story to a number at a laboratory.”
“This is a reality faced by thousands of monkeys used in research at academic institutions, private companies and federal laboratories, including at the California National Primate Research Center at UC Davis — one of seven such centers in the United States that comprise a network of research institutions and receive federal funding.” 📰 Full Story →
Colorado woman advocates for animal testing reform after rescuing four test dogs
Chierstin Susel, CBS News Colorado, 5/28/2025
“’With the beagles that we rescued; they were completely emaciated. You can see every single part of their bones. Two of the beagles that we have, they couldn’t walk because they were so weak. They took weeks and weeks of time to get the smell of feces and urine off of them. It was clear that they were not handled in a kind manner, and you couldn’t even move right or left without them flinching because they were scared of just movement of humans. To me, that is an indication of abuse.’”
“With a background in clinical research, Ochsner is aware of the inhumane conditions these animals are often subject to, often in the name of cost-cutting . . . Ochsner is not only advocating for higher standards but also argues companies should be moving away from human and animal testing and leaning into the use of artificial intelligence instead.” 📰 Full Story →
New complaint filed against Temple for killing animals during research
J.D. Prose, Penn Live Patriot-News, 5/29/2025
“A national animal welfare group has filed its second complaint this month against Temple University for its treatment of animals used in research, including claims that mice were ‘boiled alive.’”
“This comes a little over two weeks after Budkie asked the federal government to investigate Temple for an incident in which a dog died during an experiment and a whistleblower claimed records were falsified.” 📰 Full Story →
Navy to End Animal Testing on Dogs, Cats
Grayson Bakich, The Floridian, 5/28/2025
“Navy Secretary John C. Phelan recently announced that the United States Navy would no longer engage in animal testing on dogs and cats, saying it was ‘long overdue.’”
“The Gateway Pundit reported on how testing on dogs and cats by the Navy was exposed by the activist group White Coat Waste through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, including a $10 million contract to study constipation and erectile dysfunction by performing inhumane experiments on cats. Journalist and activist Laura Loomer amplified the discovery through her web show Loomer Unleashed, which garnered attention from several members of Congress and outgoing Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Elon Musk.” 📰 Full Story →
NIH won’t renew ‘cruel’ drug experiments on beagle puppies — some as young as 8 months old
Josh Christenson, New York Post, 5/29/2025
“China-led drug tests on hundreds of beagle puppies won’t be conducted anymore on the US taxpayers’ dime, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirmed to The Post on Thursday — but the Defense Department still hasn’t copped to partially funding the research deemed ‘cruel’ by lawmakers and a watchdog group.”
“A $124,200 contract between the NIH and the Beijing-based biotech firm Pharmaron to test pharmaceuticals on the pooches from Sept. 1, 2023, to May 31, 2025, is not being renewed, according to a spokesperson with the public health agency’s Office of Extramural Research.” 📰 Full Story →
Animal Welfare Groups Urge Investigation of SmartLynx Monkey Transport
Len Varley, AviationSource News, 5/30/2025
“A coalition led by PETA has urged U.S. authorities to investigate claims that SmartLynx Airlines mistreated 800 long-tailed macaque monkeys during a 43-hour flight.”
“The animal protection group has alleged the monkeys were denied water for much of the journey, violating the federal Animal Welfare Act and Code of Federal Regulations. The flight in question included seven layovers, prolonging the animals’ suffering. A whistleblower reported missing paperwork confirming the monkeys received food or water. This is despite federal rules mandating water is provided every 12 hours. After landing in Miami on May 15, the macaques were reportedly sent to U.S. laboratories for deadly experiments, raising ethical concerns.” 📰 Full Story →
Oregon Legislators Introduce Bill to Close OHSU’s 5,000-Monkey Primate Center
Anthony Effinger, Willamette Week, 5/30/2025
“Three Democratic members of the state House of Representatives introduced a bill that would phase out research on monkeys at the Oregon National Primate Research Center, the 200-acre compound in Hillsboro that’s run by Oregon Health & Science University. The bill would prohibit research on monkeys at the primate center starting May 1, 2029. Any studies being done with grants awarded before the bill passes would be allowed to wrap up. (The primate center gets the bulk of its funding from the National Institutes of Health.)”
“OHSU says it plans to fight efforts to close the primate center.” 📰 Full Story →
6 Ways to Help Animals in Labs on National Animal Rights Day
Rise for Animals, 5/29/2025
At Rise for Animals, every day is about standing up for animals suffering in labs. But National Animal Rights Day gives us a unique moment to connect with a growing global movement — one that says loud and clear: animals deserve rights, protection, and freedom.
Discover six ways that you can help animals in labs now: 📰 Full Story →
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