BOSTONHarvard Medical School says it plans to follow the recommendations of an independent panel of scientists and veterinarians that reviewed the university's troubled primate research facility in Southborough.

The two-page executive summary of the report, released to The Boston Globe ( http://b.globe.com/NBhlZe) by Deborah Kochevar, dean of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and chairwoman of the committee, calls for establishing a new veterinarian position and appointing a biosafety officer.

The committee did not investigate the specific lapses in animal care and procedures that resulted in death and harm to monkeys.

Many of the recommended changes involve adding layers of oversight and direct reporting to Harvard.

Medical School Dean Dr. Jeffrey Flier said in a statement that the school has started "a timely implementation" of the recommendations.

Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.boston.com/globe

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Harvard pledges changes at primate research center