UW primate lab names new director

The Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (WNPRC) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison appointed Ricardo Carrion Jr. as its next director on Oct. 23. Carrion will begin the role Nov. 3, 2025.

Carrion brings more than two decades of biomedical-research experience to the position, including leadership of high-containment animal-model studies and large research teams. Prior to his appointment, he served as Director of Maximum Containment Contract Research and chaired the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Vice Chancellor for Research Dorota Brzezinska said Carrion's “extensive experience in primate research and a proven track record of biomedical leadership” were decisive factors in the search.

Carrion said he was drawn to the role by the WNPRC’s reputation and the chance to grow a program “with such a talented and like-minded team.” 

Among Carrion’s priorities are strengthening foundational operations and enhancing interdisciplinary collaborations to ensure readiness for emerging disease threats.

The appointment comes amid heightened scrutiny of the center. Earlier this year, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) filed cruelty allegations against the lab, including claims of isolation, experimentation and breeding protocols involving rhesus macaques. 

A subsequent UW-Madison investigation found compliance with federal and campus animal welfare standards, though campus researchers acknowledged the challenges of ethical oversight in primate research.

The university emphasized his “extensive experience in primate research and proven biomedical leadership” will help the center navigate both scientific ambitions and public concerns.

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