PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — Researchers at a controversial research center in Washington County rallied together in support of the work they do at the Oregon National Primate Research Center at the Oregon Health and Science University West campus. The center has been a hub of controversy among animal rights activists and some medical experts for years.
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That’s why close to 70 people gathered along 185th and Northeast Holly in Beaverton, hoping to change people’s minds when it comes to how the nearly 5,000 monkeys are treated behind closed doors at the research center.
ONRPC veterinarian Drew Martin told KOIN 6 News that the governor has not responded to the university’s request to visit the center.
“I would love for the governor and her staff to get out here and see us and it’s really just the people. I think a lot of the stuff that’s in the news that talks about the facts, about OHSU, it doesn’t humanize it,” she said. “And there are over 500 individuals that work here and care about the animals and care about the science. And we’re really a community out here where, you know, we’ve worked together to do the best we can for the animals and for the research.”
Oregon Health and Science University’s Peter Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., Chief Research Officer and Executive Vice President, released a statement to KOIN 6. In part, it reads:…