Public Opinion Poll Bolsters Case for Animal-Based Medical Research

The survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults indicates that only 13% of the population opposes animal research entirely. When viable non-animal alternatives are unavailable, 53% of respondents endorse animal studies, while 51% believe this research should continue until technological alternatives prove equally effective. Notably, less than one-third of participants currently view artificial intelligence as a capable replacement for these complex scientific processes.

Public sentiment also weighs heavily against human testing, with 63% of adults rejecting the idea of using humans—including children or pregnant women—as test subjects in place of animals. These findings provide a strategic lifeline for the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC). The institution, which faces political pressure for closure, focuses on high-impact areas such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, HIV, and malaria. Advocates from Oregon Voices for Biomedical Research argue that shuttering the facility would sacrifice critical medical progress and undermine the state's scientific standing.