CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Demand for a monkey commonly used in health research is higher than ever, but scientists say a shortage of the animal is stalling their search for cures, including research into HIV treatments and vaccines. The rhesus macaque monkey has long been a lab favorite because its physiology is similar to humans. But increased demand caused by such public health crises as AIDS and the threat of bioterrorism have led to the shortage that's slowed research and has scientists paying up to $10,000 per animal. Ruth Ruprecht of Harvard Medical School had to slow down her AIDS research because of the shortage. Ruprecht and Judy Lieberman are working on a promising oral AIDS vaccine but had to wait a year for a National Institutes of Health grant big enough to buy, house, and study 86 rhesus monkeys, at a cost of $400,000, in the first year of their $12 million project. The shortage "is slowing down AIDS research; there's no doubt about it," Ruprecht said. It may even get worse, scientists said. The NIH is handing out $1.4 billion in new grants for research into bioterrorism agents, including anthrax. That growing field could have as great an impact as the AIDS crisis, which increased demand for monkeys by about 30%.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
21+ steamy photos of Scotland’s finest gay men in Elska Glasgow
February 01 2024 10:07 PM
More Than 50 of Our Favorite LGBTQ+ Moms
May 12 2024 11:44 AM
Conjoined twins Lori Schappell and trans man George Schappell dead at 62
April 27 2024 6:13 PM
Latest Stories
Joe Biden sends queer lawmakers & LGBTQ+ allies to Paris Olympics
July 24 2024 12:08 PM
Kamala Harris rides wave of Democratic energy at kickoff event in Wisconsin
July 23 2024 3:36 PM
'Devastated:' A six-week abortion ban will go into effect in Iowa next week
July 23 2024 2:28 PM
Four hours, 44,000 Black women, and one Zoom call
July 23 2024 2:17 PM