Joint ASP/APV Statement on budgetary reductions and structural changes within the NIH

The Association of Primate Veterinarians (APV) is an international organization consisting of over 400 veterinarians concerned with the health, care and welfare of nonhuman primates (NHPs). The American Society of Primatologists (ASP) is an educational and scientific organization that aims to understand, conserve and inform about NHPs.  APV and ASP are deeply concerned about the growing impact of budgetary reductions and structural changes within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on nonhuman primate care and research.

The NIH is the largest funder of research in the world and the most successful in human history—its investments have saved millions of lives and improved public health outcomes through groundbreaking scientific advances. Cuts to NIH, CDC, USDA, DOD, NIOSH, and NSF staffing and grant funding threaten the preeminence and sustainability of the American biomedical research enterprise, placing at risk the pace of scientific discovery and the development of life-saving therapies.

NIH-funded research is essential in the fight against infectious and chronic diseases, which cost U.S. taxpayers trillions of dollars annually, a cost which will continue to increase significantly as the population ages. Undermining this infrastructure through budget cuts or disruptive restructuring will have long-term consequences, both for public health and for the nation’s economic stability. APV and ASP strongly support the continuation of contractually promised grant funding and calls for the expansion of funding in the future to meet the growing health needs of the American public.

Rapid changes within NIH—particularly to staffing and program structures—have already caused work stoppages and delays in critical research. These disruptions jeopardize the systems that enable high-quality, ethical, and effective biomedical research. NHPs serve a vital, irreplaceable role in translating basic scientific discoveries into human clinical trials. Without this key step, the American public is at greater risk of exposure to unsafe or ineffective treatments.

NHP research has been central to the development of drugs like anti-retroviral therapies for treatment of HIV/AIDS, GLP-1 inhibitors for diabetes and obesity, vaccines for many infectious diseases including COVID-19, and improved outcomes in in vitro fertilization (IVF). Scientists continuously seek out and integrate the best scientific models available—including in vitro systems, computational tools, and human-relevant methods—to answer specific research questions. Rather than relying on a single approach, they combine complementary models to advance science responsibly and effectively. In some areas, nonhuman primates (NHPs) remain an essential part of this integrated strategy due to their unique physiological and behavioral similarities to humans. For example, lifelong nutritional studies or research involving pregnancy cannot ethically or feasibly be conducted in human populations. A reduction in NHP research capabilities would significantly compromise the United States’ global leadership in biomedical innovation impacting national security. APV and ASP urge the federal government to not only maintain but increase support for this essential area of research.

Additionally, proposed changes to NIH indirect cost recovery (IDC) rates would disproportionately impact the National Primate Research Centers (NPRCs) and other academic institutions conducting NHP research. These programs face higher operational costs due to the stringent standards required for animal welfare, veterinary care, behavioral management, and facilities design. Currently negotiated IDC rates—often around 80%—are vital to sustaining this infrastructure. Proposed caps of 15%–30% would drastically underfund essential services and threaten the continued operation of these programs.

Combined with reductions in grant opportunities—such as the termination of key vaccine research funding—these changes represent a significant threat to the current and future viability of NHP care and research in the United States. The loss of these resources and expertise would be financially prohibitive and time-consuming to rebuild.

APV and ASP urge federal agencies and policymakers to recognize the irreplaceable role of nonhuman primate research in protecting and advancing public health. Continued investment in this critical area of science is essential to ensure the United States remains at the forefront of biomedical discovery and therapeutic innovation.

This statement was written and reviewed by the ASP and APV Boards of Directors, April 2025