OHSU strongly refutes PETA allegations

Research
Joint statement on MCMC and OHSU agreement
Joint statement on MCMC and OHSU agreement

OHSU strongly supports what data confirm: Knowledge gained through biomedical research in relevant animal models is essential to developing new ways to identify, prevent, treat or eradicate debilitating diseases and to improve human and animal health. OHSU’s views on this topic reflect those of other academic health centers, universities, physicians and scientists throughout the world.

Research in animals has led to vaccines for polio, smallpox, mumps, and measles; a vaccine platform for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and West Nile virus; new treatments for infertility, heart disease and diabetes; breakthroughs in Parkinson’s disease, blindness, stroke and depression. Through stem cell research, we have gained new insights that should transform our understanding of human health and biotechnology.

Alcohol addiction, also known as alcohol use disorder, affects 13.9 percent of Americans, which costs the U.S. more than $249 billion annually and kills nearly 88,000 citizens each year, according to the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The evidence that animal-based research has been instrumental in developing FDA-approved alcohol drug treatments for alcohol use disorder is overwhelming. Studies conducted at the Oregon National Primate Research Center and other research institutions across the country have already resulted in four FDA-approved medications that have proved effective in treating the deadly disorder for some people, but more work remains to be done to find effective therapies for all.

The nonhuman primate model of voluntary alcohol consumption developed at ONPRC has shown that, as in the human population, there are wide individual differences in how much alcohol is consumed daily. On one end of the spectrum are monkeys at highest risk for becoming a heavy drinker and showing signs of organ damage, cognitive deficits and unhealthy response to challenging events (stress).

These monkeys allow us to:

On the other end of the drinking spectrum, the monkeys that choose not to drink heavily can provide information on genetic, physiological, or social processes that confer protection against heavy alcohol drinking. In turn, this knowledge can be used to develop preventative approaches.

Studies in mice investigate how genetics influences the brain’s response to chronic alcohol use. It’s known that a combination of risk-promoting genes increases the odds of becoming alcohol-dependent; however, it’s been unclear which genes specifically lead to increased or decreased risk. Of the many thousands of human genes, only a handful are important. Using gene-mapping techniques, OHSU scientists have successfully located genes on mouse chromosomes that influence alcohol susceptibility traits. Armed with this data, they are working to develop targeted drug treatments based in precision medicine.

OHSU understands and embraces its need to provide compassionate and state-of-the-art health and veterinary care, a responsibility that comes with the privilege of working with animals. In support of the highest quality of care for our animals, we want the public to know the following:

Following is a sampling of animal research contributions to health and science at OHSU:


Tamara Hargens-Bradley
Senior Director, Strategic Communications
OHSU
503-494-8231