San Carlos, United States - January 27, 2025 PETA supporters made their voices heard at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst's Accelerate event, which took place at the Cask Room at Domenico Winery, by chanting and holding a sign that read, “CHANCELLOR REYES: End Cruel Tests on Marmosets!” The protest was aimed at drawing attention to the controversial research being conducted at UMass by Agnès Lacreuse, which involves allegedly cruel experiments on marmoset monkeys. The protestors expressed their outrage over the reported abuse of the monkeys, who are said to be subjected to distressing experiments including being deprived of water, having electrodes attached to their skulls, and being placed in stressful situations, all in the name of studying menopause—despite marmosets not experiencing the condition in nature. PETA has called for the closure of Lacreuse’s lab, accusing the researcher of wasting taxpayer money on what they deem as unnecessary and harmful tests. “While UMass officials mingle at a winery, tiny marmosets back on campus are caged, cut open, and killed by ghoulish experimenters,” said PETA Chief Scientist Dr. Katherine Roe. “PETA urges Chancellor Reyes to shut down Agnès Lacreuse’s shameful laboratory and embrace modern, animal-free research that’s actually relevant to humans.” PETA’s actions come in the wake of ongoing concerns about Lacreuse’s experiments, which have cost taxpayers more than $6 million, including a failed sleep deprivation study at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center that reportedly cost $340,000. The organization is also calling for federal officials to investigate whether taxpayer funds have been misused in the lab.