Humane biomedical research for global health

BPRC has cross-border collaborative partnerships with several universities, research institutes and scientists. We are represented in both Dutch and international governing bodies active in the field of animal testing. Moreover, our animal care workers, vets and ethologists actively take part in national and international conferences, where they exchange experiences with their colleagues elsewhere. We are also actively involved in organisations such as the Biotechnical Society (Biotechnische Vereniging), the Dutch Society for Animal Testing (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Proefdierkunde) and the European Association of Veterinary Anatomists.

BPRC does not conduct research related to the development of cosmetics (this is prohibited under the Dutch Experiments on Animals Act), recreational drugs or weapons. BPRC only conducts research on diseases threatening the lives of humans.

As far as infectious diseases are concerned, we study experimental treatments of diseases such as corona, malaria, AIDS, dengue, tuberculosis and Zika virus. BPRC also conducts research designed to eradicate well-known aging diseases. These are just some of the fields of research we engage in. Furthermore, BPRC was closely involved in a study designed to improve organ transplantation methods. We store tissue and blood products in our often-consulted biobank, thus ensuring that nothing is wasted. Other researchers are welcome to use this material for their own medical research and in order to help endangered primate species living in the wild.

BPRC played an important part in the development of safe organ and bone marrow transplantation protocols. A vaccine against corona and a Hepatitis B vaccine that are now used worldwide have been tested within BPRC among other places. Research conducted at BPRC has significantly improved our understanding of diseases such as AIDS, arthritis and malaria. Our recent breakthroughs include the development and refinement of models used to treat Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and tuberculosis. In addition, BPRC studies on alternative methods have demonstrated new perspectives that will help us replace, refine and reduce animal testing. Another advantage of the tests carried out at BPRC, which should not be underestimated, is the fact that potentially 'unsafe' medications and therapies are discovered at an early stage.

The Dutch government does not allow clinical trials featuring human subjects unless the experimental method in question has been tested on animals first. While we perform those tests, we contemplate methods allowing us to conduct tests without the use of any animals. Because at the end of the day, we all want the same thing. If any alternative methods are available, we will use them. We have two reasons to do so. First, it means we do not have to make any animals uncomfortable, and secondly, the alternatives are cheaper. Unfortunately, we have not yet advanced far enough in the development of alternative research methods to be able to solve all the complex research questions. For the sake of clarity, it should be added that research centres like BPRC require authorisation granted by an ethics committee prior to embarking on any study. Among other things, this committee will assess whether all available avenues for reasonable alternatives have been explored.

Everybody wants to reduce the number of studies involving animal testing. We do, too. For this reason, we are conducting a lot of research on alternative testing methods, based on the principles of reduction, refinement and replacement.
At BPRC, research geared towards the development of methods not involving animal testing has been assigned to a special independent research group. In addition, we promote and support the use of alternative methods in all our individual research units.

In large parts of the world, people's health has improved considerably in the past century. This is not just because of improved hygiene, but is also largely due to breakthroughs in the medical industry, e.g. drugs and vaccines that were developed during this century, often partially due to animal testing. Of course there are still life-threatening diseases that cannot be prevented or cured. In order to successfully combat these diseases, we must expand our knowledge. Biomedical research forms the basis for the development of new and safe drugs and therapies.

In its capacity as Europe's one of the largest largest non-commercial primate research centre, BPRC plays a vital part in biomedical research on serious diseases affecting humans. BPRC conducts both exploratory and applied medical research for the purpose of improving public health. The purpose of our exploratory research is to increase our knowledge of the genesis and pathogenesis of chronic and infectious diseases. The purpose of our applied research is to contribute to the development of new medications or therapies for serious diseases.

Without exception, such studies take a long time to be completed, and experiments involving primates continue to be necessary. We accommodate and look after our animals with great devotion and attention, and while we do so, we try to determine how we can change things in the future. For this reason, BPRC is very active in the development of alternative methods which do not involve animal testing.

We do not keep the results of our studies (both involving and not involving animals) to ourselves. We make all our data available to third parties through publications, for example. Besides that, our special biobank, constitutes a valuable source of information for organisations both in the Netherlands and abroad.