What kinds of Experiments are Performed on Primates?
Searches within the NIH CRISP system revealed some common areas of experimentation that utilize primates. These areas of experimentation were examined in macaque monkeys, the most commonly used species of primates. CRISP searches reveal 29 experiments that study heart disease in macaques, and 34 that study cancer. However, this same system contains 55 projects that study cocaine in macaques, 54 that study neurobiology, 34 that study alcohol, and 188 that study neural information processing in macaques. Another 20 projects study macaque sex and an additional 55 examine reproduction in macaques. It appears that the NIH is more interested in getting primates drunk or stoned and showing them a good time, than in curing real diseases. The CRISP system lists a total of 1,070 projects that involve macaque monkeys. 188, or 17.5% are in the area of neural information processing. Another substantial (110 or 10.3%) set of grants study alcohol or addictive drugs in macaques. Macaque Monkey Project
