After reviewing 13 sites in 6 different states, we wanted to highlight the attractive features that impacted our decision to select Bainbridge and Decatur County as the future home for Safer Human Medicine. Some key elements include:

Community

● Vibrant and growing community with an attractive downtown and commitment to investing for the future
● Affordable housing, strong school systems, and a wide choice of recreational activities
● Strong workforce within a 60-minute radius that is supportive of animals and their important role in everyday life
● Desire for high paying jobs to retain workforce within the county
● During our diligence, we met with many people from the community who were pleasant and inviting, giving us a positive feel for the community

Education

● Technical college training and internship programs in veterinary and animal husbandry
● Partnerships with high school and business to incorporate skills needed for future employment
● Employee training assistance willing to custom design programs to support business needs
● 3 veterinary schools within a 4-hour drive

Infastructure

● Committed investment in roadways, municipal systems, and availability of all necessary utilities

Location

● Proximity to airports and major interstates and highways for ease of access
● Warm climate which closely resembles a primate’s natural environment
● Low risk zone for severe weather events

Business Partnership

● An Economic Development Council extremely innovative in targeting industries that are trying to address U.S. supply chain needs
● Local business support/partnership (hotels, restaurants, produce, animal feed/bedding, equipment)
● Vast number of construction contractors in the area

All animals brought to our site will be from farms that have bred them in captivity. The risk of these animals carrying any disease is extremely low given the continuous screening practices outlined in the following:

• These animals are tested for known viruses that can be found in the primate species starting shortly after birth. They are then tested again at weaning. We routinely audit international suppliers for adherence to testing programs and welfare and known health quality.
• A minimum of 30 days prior to shipment to SHM, the primates will go through a full quarantine where they are tested again. The 30 days is also defined by CDC as sufficient based on incubation periods required to demonstrate symptoms.
• Once the animals arrive at our site, they go through a defined CDC quarantine period of at least another 30 days which is monitored by the CDC. We also do numerous additional tests that exceed what is required by the CDC.
• We will continue to perform regular testing to ensure the full health of our animals while on site.
• If an animal dies while in our facilities, there is routine veterinarian reviews (necropsy) to determine cause of death and the animals are managed according to biosecurity procedures until it is removed from our site by a certified third party who follows defined biosecurity procedures for medical waste incineration.

It is critical that the animals on our site are virus and pathogen free to ensure they produce quality study outcomes.  We take great strides in our facility design to ensure animals are protected from exposure to any source of diseases. In the photos below, you will see 1) our facility perimeter will be fenced to prevent any of the native wildlife from accessing our operations, and 2) the exterior of our buildings will be shielded with high tensile screens that prevent access from rodents, insects, and birds.

The NHPs we import are all from purpose-bred colonies and are not animals being taken from the wild. These purpose-bred animals are routinely screened after birth, during grow-out, and prior to importation to the U.S. Once in the U.S., they are further screened multiple times as part of a highly regulated CDC Quarantine process. Our veterinary and animal care staff will closely monitor the health of the NHPs under our care after quarantine release. Because of these stringent requirements, the risk of spreading disease is extremely low. 

In the unlikely event that an animal tests positive for a disease, it would be humanely euthanized and removed from our site by a certified third party who follows defined biosecurity procedures for medical waste incineration.

The NHPs at SHM’s facilities will be housed in large animal enclosures inside our secure buildings. These enclosures are not only designed to make the NHPs under our care feel safe and comfortable, but also to prevent escape. Our facilities are built to give NHP’s access to the outside air and sunlight they enjoy. Our facility has several safeguards to prevent escape, including a unique building design that incorporates double barriers throughout each building. In the unlikely event an animal gets out of its enclosure, our building design will not permit two doors leading to the exterior to be opened simultaneously, preventing an animal from getting out of the building.

Animal Welfare, including preventing escape, is a top priority and has heavily influenced our facility’s design. As a result, we have engineered into our buildings multiple redundancies. The following outlines how our animals will remain in safe surroundings in the event any one specific design feature is compromised.

• Our buildings are engineer rated to withstand a direct Category 4 Hurricane. We will keep trees around the site perimeter, but we will not have tall trees near the animal buildings or fencing.
• Our buildings are designed to allow air to pass through which helps equalize the pressure within the building. This will greatly reduce the risk of a roof being lifted off in a storm event.
• In the unlikely event that a roof is compromised, or a projectile penetrates the outer screen, the pens that the NHPs are housed in are constructed of sturdy stainless steel anchored into cinderblock walls. This means the pens are a secondary enclosure within the buildings.
• All exits have double barrier door systems with mechanisms that prevent two doors from being open at the same time, which significantly reduces the risk of escape.
• We will have a proven perimeter fencing design that includes non-harmful electrification. This will serve as an additional safeguard against escape and will also deter wildlife from entering our property

There are several facilities comparable to ours, including in Georgia, located within a few hundred yards of neighborhoods and schools. This provides strong evidence that noise and smell are not a nuisance to local residents.

The noise level of our operation will be significantly less than a manufacturing operation you would typically see in an industrial park. This is a day-shift operation that will mirror other agricultural facilities in the area. On average, starting time will be around 6:30-7:00 am and the day typically ends by 3:30pm.

These NHPs are not large. On average, they are approximately 6-7 pounds (roughly the size of a house cat). Cynomolgus macaques make little to no noise and most sound is contained within the building.

Given their smaller size and our regular husbandry practices, we have confidence that there will be no noticeable smell coming from our site.

Nothing discharged from our facility will create an environmental hazard or risk. Most of our wastewater comes from regularly washing down our animal enclosures so that we can lay dry bedding and give our NHPs a clean space to forage, eat and play. We will work closely with the City of Bainbridge to make certain that, much like other farms, our natural animal waste is properly treated and disposed of so that it presents no environmental risk to our neighbors.

NHP’s account for less than 1% of the total number of animals used in research annually. Rats and mice account for 95%. However, research using rodents can only advance science so far; it has limitations. Certain types of research require the responsible use of NHPs. Human biology and disease can best be studied in NHPs because of their similarity to humans. NHPs have similar brains, muscle structure, reproductive and immune systems, and other physical attributes. A recent report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine provided an in-depth summary of the viability of alternative methods to animal testing as well as the role primates play in medical research. The following are two main conclusions from the report:

• The Landscape of New Approach Methodologies: “Based on the current state of the science, there are no alternative approaches that can replace nonhuman primate (NHP) models to answer research questions that require complete multiorgan interactions and integrated biology. Thus, NHPs continue to be essential for the conduct of NIH–supported biomedical research.”
• Future Needs and Opportunities for NHPs in Biomedical Research: “Given the nation’s most pressing public health needs and the evolving state of the science, specific domains of research—including neuroscience and neurodegenerative disorders, preparedness for unanticipated communicable infectious threats, immunotherapy, reproduction, aging, and chronic inflammatory diseases—are likely to require increased use of nonhuman primates in the future. The species distribution of future need for such research is likely to remain weighted toward macaques (particularly rhesus and cynomolgus), with increased use of marmosets.”
• Once the animals arrive at our site, they go through a defined CDC quarantine period of at least another 30 days which is monitored by the CDC. We also do numerous additional tests that exceed what is required by the CDC.
• We will continue to perform regular testing to ensure the full health of our animals while on site.
• If an animal dies while in our facilities, there is routine veterinarian reviews (necropsy) to determine cause of death and the animals are managed according to biosecurity procedures until it is removed from our site by a certified third party who follows defined biosecurity procedures for medical waste incineration.

SHM is excited to become a key contributor to an already thriving economic community. We are planning to invest no less than $270 million over the next 15+ years in infrastructure along with hiring over 250 people to support our operations. We are committed to being an active supporter of the local community through opportunities such as educational collaborations, co-ops, and internships. In addition to jobs, one of SHM’s core values is to prioritize purchasing to support local businesses.

All NHPs must be transported by specialized, climate-controlled carriers that are USDA licensed and follow very strict guidelines to ensure the safety and containment of the animals on board. Each NHP is housed in an individual, secured compartment during transfer and transit.

While the scientific community makes every effort to minimize the use of animals, at certain stages of medical research projects, a living organism must be tested to show that it is safe before a drug or treatment is approved for human trials. For human trials of new drugs or treatments to proceed, by law, there must be appropriate animal testing completed.

There are many similarities between humans and animals. NHPs share more than 98% of DNA with humans. NHPs are used because of their similar genetic makeup and therefore are the best model for predicting how these drugs will interact in a human system.

If animals are not well-treated, the science and knowledge gained from animal-based studies will not be trustworthy and cannot be replicated. Veterinarians, caretakers, and researchers view their work with research animals as a privilege. They fully understand that they are legally, and morally, obligated to ensure the health and well-being of animals in their care.

Countless scientific benefits have resulted from animal research. Without animal research, we would not have chemotherapy drugs for cancer, high blood pressure medication, the ability to perform organ transplants, insulin drugs for those with diabetes, artificial joint replacements, drugs such as penicillin and other antibiotics, pacemakers, vaccines for COVID, polio, measles, rubella, and tetanus, and hundreds of other medical advances.

Animal research not only benefits humans, but also plays a key role in the development of veterinary medicines for livestock, pets, and animals residing in zoos and sanctuaries.

To the contrary, we believe it is immoral to allow humans and animals to suffer from disease and illness. The use of animals in human and veterinary research is viewed by those involved as a scientifically justifiable means to an end that must be preserved to ensure that humans and animals don’t have to needlessly endure disease and suffering.