Some Experiments on Monkeys Suspended at UW – NARN

Closer to closure: Tireless NARN advocates demonstrate how community activism can promote positive change in a recent primate lab win at the University of Washington. 

In a first, the UW Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)—the entity responsible for overseeing the health and well-being of all nonhuman animals experimented on at the university—has finally cracked down on a notorious researcher, Dr. Michele Basso, for flouting animal welfare standards and scientific integrity by suspending all four of her research protocols that used nonhuman animals.

Even before coming to Seattle, Basso had a known history of questionable animal welfare practices. The University of Washington was aware of Basso’s history, but in a decision perfectly illustrative of the callous disregard the UW typically holds toward nonhuman animals who are experimented on, the university hired Basso in 2021 as the director of the primate lab, known as the Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC).

After years of pressure from NARN volunteers, including countless hours of testimony during committee meetings, IACUC finally voted to suspend all of Basso’s experiments. The vote occurred after committee members expressed their concern about Basso continuing to be allowed to work with nonhuman animals in light of her previous non-compliances and flagrant disregard of animal welfare standards. Committee members said that they were “not comfortable” with Basso continuing to work on nonhuman animals, and that Basso has a “general disregard for the rules.” This was after Basso was also removed from her role as director in 2024. Basso continues to be on staff, but she will not be allowed to work with nonhuman animals for now.

While this victory is a shining example of what we can achieve as advocates, there is still work to be done. NARN continues to run its Animals in Labs campaign against the WaNPRC and we won’t stop until the primate lab is closed permanently. See below for ways you can get involved with our campaign.