UCSF targeted for protest following request they return federal funds
Education Desk
October 22, 2009
SAN FRANCISCO – The University of California, San Francisco – already being asked to refund millions of dollars in federal grants because of the way it treats research subjects – will be targeted for a major protest today by animal rights activists.
The protest – one of dozens being held across the nation for "National Primate Liberation Week" – will be held today, 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at UCSF (513 Parnassus) by Army of Compassion, an animal rights group.
UCSF, which has been fined nearly $100,000 in recent years for Animal Welfare Act violations, should be required to refund millions in grants, wrote SAEN, a research watchdog based in Ohio, in an appeal to the National Institutes of Health and federal Inspector General.
"The situation at UCSF is grave and has the potential to waste millions in federal funding as well as causing needless suffering to many animals," wrote Michael Budkie, A.H.T., executive director with SAEN. He will be joined Wednesday by SAEN legal counsel.
Budkie said SAEN uncovered numerous instances of neglect and violation of law, including one where animals awakened during surgery while holes were being drilled in their skulls.
"These violations show an extreme disregard for the well-being of these animals, and since the NIH policy states investigators cannot make changes to grants when they are in violation of the AWA, we are filing a request that the money for these grants and for these specific animals be refunded," said Budkie.
Additionally, Budkie said there is evidence of a "cover-up" of the violations at UCSF.
If the NIH does not take action, Budkie said SAEN is prepared to file suit to have the taxpayer money recovered.
The protest – one of dozens being held across the nation for "National Primate Liberation Week" – will be held today, 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at UCSF (513 Parnassus) by Army of Compassion, an animal rights group.
UCSF, which has been fined nearly $100,000 in recent years for Animal Welfare Act violations, should be required to refund millions in grants, wrote SAEN, a research watchdog based in Ohio, in an appeal to the National Institutes of Health and federal Inspector General.
"The situation at UCSF is grave and has the potential to waste millions in federal funding as well as causing needless suffering to many animals," wrote Michael Budkie, A.H.T., executive director with SAEN. He will be joined Wednesday by SAEN legal counsel.
Budkie said SAEN uncovered numerous instances of neglect and violation of law, including one where animals awakened during surgery while holes were being drilled in their skulls.
"These violations show an extreme disregard for the well-being of these animals, and since the NIH policy states investigators cannot make changes to grants when they are in violation of the AWA, we are filing a request that the money for these grants and for these specific animals be refunded," said Budkie.
Additionally, Budkie said there is evidence of a "cover-up" of the violations at UCSF.
If the NIH does not take action, Budkie said SAEN is prepared to file suit to have the taxpayer money recovered.
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