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3w ago

NIH Ends Decades of Beagle Experiments with Closure of Final In-House Lab

NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya announces the closure of the Bethesda facility, marking a pivotal shift toward non-animal research methods after years of scrutiny and advocacy.

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Overview

  • The NIH officially closed its last in-house beagle experimentation lab in Bethesda, Maryland, as confirmed by Director Jay Bhattacharya on May 5, 2025.
  • Over 2,100 beagles were subjected to septic shock experiments at the lab since 1986, as revealed by watchdog group White Coat Waste Project in 2016.
  • The closure aligns with Trump administration policies at the FDA and EPA to phase out animal testing in favor of human-based and technological research models.
  • Animal rights groups, including PETA and White Coat Waste, praised the move as a major victory, though calls continue to end NIH-funded animal experiments globally.
  • The decision follows bipartisan outrage over NIH-funded external abuse cases and the 2024 Envigo puppy mill scandal, which highlighted systemic issues in animal research.