Birmingham Deserves Better
Did You Know UAB Uses Animals in Research?
It’s time to end animal suffering in laboratories
It’s time for UAB to end animal suffering in its laboratories.
The National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) – a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending animal use in science – urges you to join us in demanding that UAB stop animal suffering in its laboratories and transition to more effective and humane research methods.
Recent USDA inspection reports raise serious concerns about animal care at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
In January and May 2024, federal inspectors documented repeated violations involving ferrets, monkeys, hamsters, and tree shrews — including preventable deaths, untreated medical issues, unsafe housing conditions, and sanitation failures.
Among the findings:
Three ferrets died and five others showed signs of asphyxiation after experimental cigarette smoke exposure due to blocked airflow.
A rhesus macaque suffered thermal injuries so severe that multiple digits and part of the tail had to be amputated.
A hamster was found dead after becoming trapped due to an improperly closed cage lid.
A colony of 110 hamsters was fed expired food for over a year.
Exposed electrical cords, dirty enclosures, rodent feces, and water leaks were documented throughout the facility.
Despite these findings, the facility received only an Official Warning Notice — with no fines or penalties issued to date.
Animal suffering should never be treated as a cost of doing business.
UAB has the opportunity to lead by investing in modern, human-relevant research methods that do not rely on animal experimentation. Non-animal technologies are increasingly available, scientifically superior in many cases, and aligned with public expectations for ethical research.
Join us in calling on the University of Alabama at Birmingham to:
Phase out animal testing in favor of humane, non-animal research methods
Improve transparency and accountability in laboratory oversight
Commit to higher standards of care and compliance immediately
Birmingham residents deserve research institutions that reflect the values of compassion, responsibility, and scientific innovation.
Join the Call for Change!
Sign NAVS Petition to End Animal Suffering in UAB Labs!
Ray L. Watts, M.D.
President
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
1720 2nd Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35294-0110
Dear Dr. Watts,
On behalf of the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) and the undersigned supporters, I am writing to express our deep concern about the treatment of animals used in laboratory experiments at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection reports have documented serious violations in the university’s animal research labs, including preventable deaths, untreated medical conditions, unsafe housing, and sanitation failures affecting monkeys, hamsters, ferrets, and other species.
These are not isolated incidents. They are documented findings similar to violations recorded the previous year, rendering UAB a repeat offender and suggesting a disturbing pattern of neglect.
We call on UAB leadership to take immediate action to:
- Improve transparency and accountability in the oversight of your laboratories.
- Strengthen compliance to ensure the safety and welfare of the animals in your care.
- Phase out animal testing in favor of more effective and humane research methods.
Birmingham and the wider scientific community deserve research institutions that reflect the highest standards of compassion, responsibility, and scientific integrity. Animal suffering should never be treated as a cost of doing business.
We urge UAB leadership to act now.
Respectfully,
Sally Draper
Executive Director, NAVS
Sign the letter. Make your voice heard.
It’s time for UAB to end animal suffering in its laboratories.
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