As an HIV researcher for many years, I want to address Dr. Neal Barnard’s dismissive claims in his op-ed in The Oregonian/OregonLive on the use of macaques in HIV-1 research, (“Opinion: Should OHSU’s primate research center be closed? Advocates for closure and OHSU researchers offer their views,” April 6). It is common scientific knowledge that: HIV-1 and SIV share a common viral ancestor; SIV infection in macaques replicate the key features of HIV-1 infection in human such as lifelong infection and the development of immunodeficiency; and current and future treatments of HIV-1 are being developed using the SIV-macaque model of HIV-1, which is the best animal model for HIV-1 known to science.

News Source : https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025/04/readers-respond-hiv-research-needs-macaques.html