As the closest living relative of humans, the chimpanzee holds a unique place in biomedical research. Several major medical advances have been possible only through research with chimpanzees. The completion of the draft sequence of the chimpanzee genome, the first non-human primate genome to be sequenced, places the chimpanzee in a position to play an increasingly critical and invaluable role in future biomedical advances. But with the decline in the US population of captive chimpanzees available for research, this national resource is at risk. Lifting the current moratorium on breeding chimpanzees in US research facilities is essential to preserve this unique resource — which we believe is needed to solve some of the most important global health problems of today and tomorrow.
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