Scientists fear impact as senators back end to primate research

Dutch university hospitals and scientific organizations have raised the alarm about a parliamentary decision to phase out government funding for medical research involving primates, warning it could severely damage public health and force the closure of the Netherlands' main primate research centre.

Last week, a majority in the House of Representatives unexpectedly backed a proposal from the pro-animal PvdD to gradually withdraw €12.5 million in annual subsidies from the Biomedical Primate Research Center (BPRC) in Rijswijk. The measure was inserted into the education ministry budget, which was then approved by senators on Tuesday afternoon.

The change instructs the education ministry to redirect the funding towards alternative research methods and says the subsidy must be fully withdrawn by 2030.

Prior to Tuesday's vote, universities and the Dutch academy of science KNAW wrote to parliament, calling the measure “far-reaching, poorly thought through and harmful to public health”.

“Primate research is essential for medical progress,” the letter said. It was also signed by four European research institutions, as well as HollandBio and the Dutch association of innovative medicines, which represents biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

The BPRC is the largest facility of its kind in Europe. It is involved in research on infectious diseases such as malaria and Covid, and on neurological conditions including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Each year, a maximum of 150 monkeys may be used in studies.

BPRC director Merel Langelaar told the Financieele Dagblad the center is at risk of closure. “The change in subsidy gives us some space to seek other sources of income, but in practice that's very difficult. We're a scientific institute—we don't want to take on commercial research contracts,” she said.

The teaching hospitals and KNAW called it “naive” to believe that effective alternatives—such as computer models or lab-grown mini-organs—can fully replace monkey studies, especially for complex systems like the brain or immune system.

The BPRC has long been the target of animal rights protests and staff have previously faced threats from activists.