A study from the animal rights group PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, has reported a 73 percent increase in the number of vertebrate lab animals over a 15 year period from 1997 to 2012.

U.S. federally funded medical laboratories’ use of vertebrate animals surged in the 15 years between 1997 and 2012.

The animal rights group PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, has reported a 72.7 percent increase among the top 25 institutions funded by the National Institutes of Health which reportedly includes Harvard, Yale, and Johns Hopkins.

PETA’s report was based on data requested through the Freedom of Information Act, and according to their blog