Before new medications and medical procedures can be tested in humans, they are typically tested in animals, who serve as “model systems” to determine their safety and efficacy. The use of animals in research is an understood and, in many ways, integral part of medicine.

But about a year ago, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) commissioned a long-term study by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to evaluate the necessity of using chimpanzees in medical research. The IOM released their findings last month, arguing that the use of chimpanzees should be significantly curtailed. But the researchers remained undecided on a couple of important issues, read the entire article here.