Tanzanian chimpanzeeFLICKR, NILS RINALDI

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has purchased stock of a Maryland-based private research facility BIOQUAL, which conducts tests on great apes. The animal rights organization plans to raise a resolution at the next shareholder’s meeting to end testing on chimpanzees, according to a press release from the organization.

BIOQUAL is currently testing a heptatitis C vaccine, and recently conducted research in the great apes using norovirus, which causes diarrhea, according to a press release. The action comes in the wake of last week’s Institute of Medicine report, which halted all new federal funding for chimpanzee research and found that most studies do not need to use the animals. The report’s writers were divided as to whether hepatitis C vaccine research should be allowed.

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!