Council moves to block ERC project using macaques

Tamietto's project on hold as bioscientists warn that decision might feed brain-drain

A decision by the Italian Consiglio di Stato (Council of State) has put on hold a project funded by the European Research Council, which will conduct science using macaque monkeys.

With a provisional decision published on 23 January, the council stopped the project, which would use six macaques to study blindness. The council is an administrative consultative body that ensures the legality of public administration in Italy.