A twice-suspended research project at Oakland University that involved allegations of animal neglect and staff endangerment has drawn strong criticism from a national watchdog group.
Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN), an Ohio-based organization that monitors research facilities for fraud and animal abuse, filed an administrative complaint with Oakland University President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz calling for the termination of the project, the firing of the principal investigator, and a ban on future animal research by other staff.
SAEN’s complaint follows an internal report from the university that disclosed disturbing details, including that unqualified personnel performed anesthesia and aseptic procedures under the direction of Dr. Mohamed Al-Shabrawey, leading to procedural errors so severe that the university suspended the project. The same report revealed that staff failed to feed mice, resulting in their deaths, and exposed themselves to a toxic chemical without proper authorization, requiring hospital visits.
“This PI must be fired, all staff connected to this project must be permanently banned from participation in animal research, the project must be permanently ended, and any unused funding must be returned to the federal government,” Michael A. Budkie, SAEN’s executive director, said in a statement Wednesday.
This is not the first time Oakland University has faced criticism for its handling of animal research. In a previous case, the university allowed a different researcher to continue after mishandling a dangerous toxin, exposing staff and invalidating federally funded experiments. In that case, three mice injected with a genotoxin were returned to their holding room without proper safeguards, contaminating the area. Two of the mice were later found dying, and the third was dead.
Despite the university’s acknowledgement of “serious” violations in the earlier case, the researcher was permitted to continue working after retraining. Budkie argued that the university’s reliance on federal funding — more than $360,000 annually in one case — might be driving a culture of leniency.
Now, SAEN is calling for accountability in Al-Shabrawey’s case, which has a pattern of noncompliance dating back to at least two years. A 2022 report detailed how Al-Shabrawey’s team used a toxic chemical without approval, requiring five staff members to seek hospital treatment. That same report documented two prior concerns about the lab’s adherence to safety protocols.
“That PI must be fired, all staff connected to this project must be permanently ended, and any unused funding must be returned to the federal government,” Budkie wrote in his letter to Pescovitz. “Any other action would be a permanent stain on the reputation of Oakland University.”
In August 2024, the university’s own research oversight body suspended all surgical procedures, citing unqualified staff performing invasive techniques that risked neurovascular injury.
An Oakland University official said research was paused after a student failed to follow procedures, triggering a review and corrective actions to comply with federal policy.
“Oakland University research staff recognized that a student missed steps specified in their supervisor’s written procedures and promptly suspended the work,” David A. Stone, vice president for research at Oakland University, said in a statement. “When work is suspended, the university is required to report the suspension of work to the federal agency that oversees the use of lab animals. The university reviewed the suspended activity, applied corrective measures and allowed the research to resume. The agency was provided a final report of corrective actions and concluded that the university’s response complied with federal policy.”
