Purdue Research Projects Suspended Following Misconduct Allegations

Purdue University has suspended multiple research projects following serious allegations of misconduct related to animal welfare. Complaints filed in late 2025 highlighted failures in maintaining proper lab conditions, including inadequate aseptic environments and the use of unapproved drugs on laboratory animals. These allegations were revealed through documents obtained by the animal rights organization Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN) via a Freedom of Information Act request.

The internal complaints were directed to Purdue’s Office of Research, which outlined various incidents of misconduct. Michael Budkie, executive director of SAEN, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “They were not following protocol… and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee requires that the protocol is followed to the letter. None of this research can be published. Whatever chance these projects may have had to provide some kind of useful scientific information is gone.”

In October 2025, a project examining behavioral and neural outcomes associated with drugs of abuse and neurodegenerative diseases was suspended due to violations of safety protocols. The Office of Research cited issues such as improper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and failure to maintain a sterile environment. Trevor Peters, a spokesperson for the university, confirmed the suspension but asserted that no procedures were conducted outside of approved guidelines. “The matter was resolved promptly, and the protocol was reinstated without further concerns,” Peters stated.

Despite the reinstatement of the first project, another experiment titled “High-throughput deep tissue in vivo imaging” faced a more severe outcome. In December 2025, this project was permanently suspended after the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) unanimously voted for its termination. Reportedly, one lab member was permanently suspended for their involvement in multiple violations, including improperly housing laboratory mice and failing to euthanize a mouse with a non-healing wound.

The individual in question allegedly moved the wounded mouse from the housing area to the laboratory and opted to treat the wound themselves, applying surgical glue without veterinary consultation. Documentation revealed that the logs on the animal’s health appeared to have been falsified, with discrepancies in the recorded access times and treatment dates.

Budkie noted that SAEN receives approximately 1,000 lab complaints annually, with 50 to 100 deemed serious enough for suspension. He pointed out that fewer than ten complaints involve document falsification. The letter sent to the NIH emphasized that unresolved falsification could jeopardize Purdue’s accreditation with the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care.

Due to the association with the NIH, those involved in the misconduct face potential consequences that could hinder their future in federally funded research. Budkie explained, “The Federal Office of Research Integrity (at NIH), if they find someone guilty of research misconduct, they can, at least on a temporary basis, if not permanently, bar guilty parties from ever participating in federally funded research again.” Many institutions depend on federal funding for a significant portion of their research.

The remaining lab personnel are required to undergo retraining on IACUC policies before continuing their work. Peters reiterated Purdue’s commitment to responsible research, stating, “Purdue remains fully committed to maintaining complete compliance with all animal care and use regulations and to sustaining transparent, proactive communication with institutional oversight committees.”

Budkie described the situation as unusual for a smaller institution, saying, “For a comparatively smaller institution to have to suspend two protocols apparently within a year, that’s highly unusual.”

The university aims to address these issues promptly and uphold the standards expected in animal research.