Taxpayer research funds have been used to conduct "Frankenstein-like" experiments and organ transplants on imported primates, Fairfax Media reports.

Sydney hospitals and universities are conducting secret medical experiments on hundreds of primates, according to media reports on Sunday.

Fairfax Media reports that taxpayer funds have been used to complete "Frankenstein-like" surgical experiments, including the insertion of a pig's kidney into a baboon.

NSW Health is reported to have denied the performing of whole organ transplants, despite the acknowledgement of the National Health and Medical Research Council that it has funded research for "whole organ animal to animal xenotransplantation".

A Senate inquiry into the import of primates into Australia for medical research is set to report on its findings in early March.

Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon has proposed banning the importation of primates for research purposes and says research should not be secretive.

"Full details on the treatment of the animals used in research and the purpose of the experiments should be disclosed," Senator Rhiannon said.