KU Leuven to study neurological diseases using macaques

The University of Leuven (KU Leuven) board has approved two new studies requiring tests on rhesus macaque monkeys. The experiments will take place between 2014 and 2017 and are financed by the independent agency Science Research Fund (FWO) for a total of €793,500.

The experiments on the macaques’ brains are intended to find possible treatments for neurological diseases, like Parkinson’s. The project is led by neurophysiologist Wim Vanduffel. Last June, the news that Vanduffel was injecting macaques with cocaine to study drug addiction in humans sparked a storm of international protest.

The new studies are contested as well. KU Leuven rector Rik Torfs has said he is troubled by the matter but is unwilling to limit the freedom of his researchers if the FWO has taken its decision. Nevertheless, yesterday he received members of the Dutch-Flemish animal-rights group Anti Dierproeven Coalitie to discuss the matter.

“It’s very important that we take the matter seriously,” said Torfs. “For a study of life-threatening illnesses, research on monkeys can be very useful. But in other situations, we should be much more restrained.”