UW-Madison halts its sleep study due to PETA outrage

MADISON, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin-Madison ended its sleep deprivation study Friday in response to backlash from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

The University said in March it was studying marmoset monkeys to learn about the role of poor sleep in dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The monkeys were roused from sleep multiple times during the night by short alarm-like tones.

PETA said in a press release Friday it urged the National Institute on Aging, The National Institute of Health, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate the experiment and cut its funding. PETA supporters also contacted UW to end the study.

The University said exploring sleep's role in the development of diseases in humans is unethical and difficult, so studying the monkeys was necessary to researchers, patient advocacy organizations, and federal agencies. PETA said the experiment forced the monkeys to endure prolonged distress without pain relief.

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