Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research

The Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research is one of eight federally funded Regional Primate Research Centers that conduct biomedical research using primates. In the following viewpoint, the foundation argues that because monkeys and apes are so physically similar to humans, they make excellent models for studying infectious and chronic human diseases. In fact, the foundation contends that research involving non-human primates has led to major medical breakthroughs in the treatment and prevention of human diseases that would not have been possible without the use of non-human primates.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. Of the 1.35 million animals used in medical research in 1996, what percentage were primates, according to the foundation? 2. According to the foundation, why are non-human primates used in studying menopause"
3. What percentage of research animals do not...