Michigan Lawmakers Seek End to Dog Testing at Wayne State University

Bipartisan group calls research on beagles "inhumane" and demands halt to NIH-funded experiments.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 8:31pm

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A bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers are calling for an end to medical testing on beagles at Wayne State University in Detroit. The lawmakers say the research, funded by the National Institutes of Health for 35 years, is inhumane and has not produced meaningful results. They have sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the NIH director demanding the testing be stopped.

Why it matters

The lawmakers argue that the research, which involves subjecting dogs to invasive surgeries and treadmill tests to artificially induce heart conditions, is cruel and wasteful, with at least 150 dogs dying since 2010 without leading to significant medical breakthroughs. This case highlights the ongoing debate over the ethics and efficacy of animal testing, especially for conditions that may be better studied through other means.

The details

As part of the research at Wayne State, scientists study human heart failure and hypertension by trying to artificially create those conditions in beagles. The lawmakers say university staff conduct invasive surgeries on the dogs, implanting devices, and then run the dogs on treadmills, drastically raising their heart rates. The group of lawmakers sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the NIH director, citing documents obtained by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine that detail the inhumane treatment of the animals.

  • The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has funded the research at Wayne State for 35 years through a grant.
  • Since 2010, at least 150 dogs have died as part of the research at Wayne State.

The players

Wayne State University

A public research university in Detroit, Michigan that has conducted medical research on beagles for decades with funding from the National Institutes of Health.

Rep. Joseph Aragona

A Republican state representative from Clinton Township, Michigan who is leading the bipartisan group of lawmakers seeking to end the dog testing at Wayne State.

Dr. Michael Bradley

The director of veterinary medicine and attending veterinarian at Wayne State University, who has defended the research as necessary to save lives.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and public health research, which has provided funding for the dog testing at Wayne State University for 35 years.

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

A nonprofit organization that advocates for ethical and effective medical research practices, and provided documents to the lawmakers detailing the inhumane treatment of dogs at Wayne State.

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What they’re saying

“The group of doctors who brought this issue to me said this type of research, any type of research that could come out of this could happen without actually killing any animals. That leads to the question as to why are we doing it?”

— Rep. Joseph Aragona, State Representative (wwmt.com)

“It's really very torturous towards these beagles, and this happens every year. Wayne State gets some beagles, these beagles really only last in the research realm, about 18 maybe, it tops 24 months, and then they're euthanized, and that's if they don't die previously.”

— Rep. Joseph Aragona, State Representative (wwmt.com)

“When we do it, it's for one reason: to save lives. All animal research undergoes rigorous ethics review to ensure it meets strict federal guidelines, minimizes animal use and prioritizes animal welfare.”

— Dr. Michael Bradley, Director of Veterinary Medicine, Wayne State University (wwmt.com)

What’s next

Rep. Joseph Aragona says he hopes to speak to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services next week when Michigan House Republicans head to Washington for a meeting with Trump cabinet officials. Aragona has also introduced a bill that would ban tests on dogs in Michigan.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over the ethics and efficacy of animal testing, especially for medical conditions that may be better studied through alternative means. The lawmakers argue the research on beagles at Wayne State is inhumane and wasteful, while the university defends it as necessary to save human lives, raising questions about the balance between animal welfare and medical advancement.