[1] The WNPRC describes its mission to involve researching human diseases, studying primate biology, providing "expertise, resources and training" to scientists, and disseminating information about the center.

As part of his experiments, Harlow developed a device called the "pit of despair", which was an isolation chamber where young monkeys were kept for up to ten weeks.

[2] In July 2014, a USDA inspection report revealed that since January 1, 2013, there had been 36 incidents of non-human primates escaping from their enclosures.

[2] In October 2013, a macaque sustained a thermal injury after a heat lamp, which was intended to warm the animal, malfunctioned.

[2] In 2014, psychiatrist Ned Kalin was approved for experiments in which newborn monkeys were to be separated from their mothers, subjected to anxiety-inducing tests, and then euthanized.

[5] In December 2015, it was discovered that a drinking water supply line for three rhesus macaques had been disconnected for one to four days.

[7] In July 2019, a USDA inspection report revealed that as the result of a handling procedure, a marmoset had sustained a femur fracture that required amputation.

[8] In August 2021, the USDA reported seven incidents over the past two years due to improper handling by the staff, which caused injuries to multiple primates.