Biomedical Primate Research Centre facts for kids
The Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC) is a science center in the Netherlands. It is located in Rijswijk and has about 110 employees. The BPRC is the largest center in Europe that uses primates for medical research. Its main goal is to find and develop new medicines. These medicines help fight serious diseases.
What is the BPRC?
The BPRC is a special place where scientists work to understand diseases. They also try to find new ways to treat them. The Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science provides money for the BPRC. This means the government supports its important research. The center became an independent group in 1994. Before that, it was part of a larger research organization.
What Kind of Research Happens There?
Scientists at the BPRC study many different areas. These include how the body fights off sickness (Immunobiology). They also study tiny creatures that cause disease (Parasitology). Another area is viruses (Virology). They also look at animal behavior (Ethology). A very important part of their work is finding ways to do research without using animals.
The BPRC houses rhesus macaques and marmosets. These animals are part of studies on serious illnesses. These diseases include AIDS, malaria, hepatitis, and tuberculosis. They also research auto-immune diseases. These are conditions where the body's defense system attacks itself.
Animal Welfare and Public Opinion
Using animals for research is a topic many people care about. In 2002, the Dutch government stopped new research on chimpanzees. However, studies that were already happening could finish. By 2015, reports showed the BPRC used about 200 monkeys each year for experiments.
People who are concerned about animal welfare often protest outside the BPRC. They want the center to stop using animals for research. Some politicians in the Dutch parliament have also asked for the center to close. In 2018, some images were shared that raised concerns about how animals were being treated. This led to more discussions in the Dutch Parliament about the BPRC's practices.
