The NIH closes its last beagle testing facility after decades of controversy, signaling a pivot to AI-driven research and marking a landmark victory for animal rights advocates
At a Glance
- NIH shuts down final in-house beagle research lab
- Over 2,100 dogs subjected to lethal experiments since the 1980s
- NIH pivots to AI and human-relevant alternatives
- White Coat Waste and PETA hail closure as historic reform
- New NIH office to oversee non-animal research methods
A New Chapter in Federal Research
In a dramatic policy reversal, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has officially closed its last beagle experimentation facility, ending a four-decade legacy of controversial animal testing. The lab, located at NIH’s Bethesda, Maryland campus, was long used for painful experiments that included inducing septic shock and respiratory failure in healthy dogs—procedures animal rights advocates have condemned for years.
NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya confirmed the lab’s closure during a press event, declaring, “We got rid of all the beagle experiments on the NIH campus.” The announcement follows intense pressure from organizations like PETA and White Coat Waste Project (WCW), both of which spent years exposing what they called taxpayer-funded “torture.” According to Breitbart News, over 2,100 beagles were subjected to terminal studies since the 1980s.
Watch Fox News’ video recap at NIH closes experimentation labs accused of brutally killing thousands of beagles.
The Role of Advocacy and Whistleblowing
PETA, which has released extensive reports on federal animal research, applauded the closure as a turning point. Their “Research Modernization Now” blueprint, updated in early 2025, laid out a strategic roadmap for replacing outdated animal models with AI-driven simulations and organ-on-a-chip platforms. Meanwhile, WCW’s undercover investigations helped bring national attention to the lab’s procedures, including a now-viral video showing dogs collapsing under chemical stress tests.
In a statement via PETA, the group said the decision “reflects the growing consensus that animal testing is both cruel and scientifically obsolete.”
From Cruelty to Code: The AI Alternative
The NIH’s shift comes amid a broader federal trend. Under both the Trump and Biden administrations, agencies like the EPA and FDA have taken steps to reduce or eliminate animal testing. AI-enabled toxicity screening, stem-cell modeling, and 3D tissue simulations are emerging as scalable, ethical alternatives—ones proponents say are also more predictive for human biology.
A new NIH office, dedicated to non-animal technologies, will now oversee a portfolio of AI-based and human-relevant research tools. According to Breitbart, this unit is tasked with ensuring taxpayer dollars fund modern, humane science.
Legacy and Accountability
The closure also adds fuel to renewed scrutiny over former NIH leadership, particularly Dr. Anthony Fauci, who oversaw many of the beagle experiments during his tenure. Fauci has faced increasing criticism for what WCW called “a legacy of taxpayer-funded cruelty” without sufficient oversight or public accountability.
As the NIH moves forward, advocates are urging Congress to defund any remaining dog research contracts outsourced to private labs and to legislate stronger protections against future animal testing abuses.
