• For decades, NIH laboratories conducted experiments on dogs, particularly beagles, due to their docile nature and suitability for controlled medical studies.

• These experiments often involved inducing pain, stress, or disease conditions, such as cardiomyopathy and sepsis, to study human health outcomes. Animal rights organizations, including PETA and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), criticized the practices as cruel and outdated.

The Closure Decision

• In May 2025, NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, announced the permanent shutdown of the last beagle lab on the NIH campus.

• Bhattacharya emphasized that the closure was part of a broader effort to shift funding away from animal-based experiments toward human-centered research models, such as advanced cell cultures, organ-on-a-chip technologies, and computational simulations.

Reactions from Advocacy Groups

• PETA and other animal rights groups celebrated the decision, noting that it marked the end of decades of controversial experiments. In fact, PETA sent flowers to Bhattacharya in appreciation, a rare gesture given the organization’s history of sharp criticism toward NIH leadership.

• The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine praised the move as a “huge step forward” in modernizing biomedical research and reducing reliance on animal testing.

Broader Implications

• Scientific Impact: The closure reflects a growing consensus in the scientific community that animal models often fail to accurately predict human responses. Studies published in journals like Nature and The Lancet have highlighted the limitations of animal testing, with many drugs that succeed in animal trials later failing in human clinical trials.

• Ethical Shift: The decision aligns with global trends. The European Union has already banned animal testing for cosmetics, and countries such as the UK are investing heavily in alternatives to animal research.

• Public Opinion: Polls conducted by organizations like Gallup show increasing public opposition to animal testing, especially when it involves companion animals such as dogs.

Conclusion

The closure of NIH’s beagle labs under Jay Bhattacharya represents a landmark moment in U.S. biomedical research policy, signaling a transition toward more humane and scientifically advanced methods. While critics argue that some animal testing remains necessary for certain medical breakthroughs, the move demonstrates a clear commitment to reducing animal suffering and embracing innovative research technologies.