Grant Number: P40OD024628

Research Emphasis/Objectives

The main objectives of the Specific-Pathogen-Free Baboon Research Resource (SPFBRR) are to conduct applied research to improve the resource, support investigators who need facilities and expertise for research projects involving olive baboons that are free of all known adventitious viruses of baboons, and expand the resource to create a self-sustaining SPF breeding colony of behaviorally healthy and genetically robust breeding animals.

Current Research

Adventitious virus-free baboons are used primarily in infectious disease research, including studies of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pertussis (whooping cough), and bacterial sepsis. Additionally, virus-free baboons are used to support xenotransplantation research. Virus-free baboons also are used to study the pathogenesis of herpesvirus and retrovirus infections in their native hosts. Because baboons have a more complete immune system than macaques and other commonly used research nonhuman primates (NHPs), animals from our colony also have been used extensively to support vaccine development studies, including novel human vaccines for COVID-19.

Services Provided

To Outside Investigators

Tissues and biologics are available. Specimens are provided on a priority basis to NIH-sponsored research studies. Prices are available upon request. 

To Collaborating Scientists

Individuals interested in collaborative studies should contact the principal investigator and provide a study outline. Approval of collaborative projects depends on the relevance of the proposed project to the objectives of the ongoing research effort. Complete animal husbandry, medical care, and pathology services are available without charge to investigators who have received approval from the principal investigator to use resource colony animals.

Animal Resources

The SPFBRR is the only national research resource of olive baboons that is free of all known adventitious viruses of baboons available to NIH grantees; intramural research programs of federal agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Science Foundation, and NIH; and other sponsors of biomedical research. Absolutely unique in the entire world, the baboons in the SPFBRR have an extensive bioexclusion list of 19 pathogens normally found in other wild and captive NHP colonies.

Contact Information

SPF Baboon Research Resource
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research
Department of Comparative Medicine
650 Cool Water Dr.
Bastrop, TX 78602
mdanderson.org/kccmr

Principal Investigator and Contact

Joe H. Simmons, D.V.M., Ph.D., DACLAM
Phone: 512-321-3991
Fax: 512-332-5208
jhsimmons1@mdanderson.org

Grant Number: P51OD011133

Research Emphasis/Objectives

The Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) supports studies of nonhuman primate models of human diseases, including common chronic diseases and infectious diseases, and the effects that genetics and the environment have on physiological processes and susceptibility to specific diseases.

Services Provided

To Outside Investigators

The SNPRC encourages the use of its resources by investigators from the national and international biomedical research communities. The SNPRC also is available for collaborative research initiatives involving center staff and outside investigators. In general, expenses are assumed by the initiating investigator, and collaborative research efforts are covered by grants acquired collaboratively.

Specimens

Banked serum, tissue, and DNA samples. Fresh blood, serum, plasma, tissues, and organs.

Animals

Baboons (Papio hamadryasanubis, P.h. cynocephalus), chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), miscellaneous primate species as required for specific research purposes. Also, rhesus macaques with an LDL receptor defect that causes familial hypercholesterolemia.

Veterinary Technical Services

Timed pregnancies, tether, radiography, sonography, endoscopy, experimental surgery, experimental diets, nursery, behavioral assessment. Animal Biosafety Level 3 (ABSL-3) and ABSL-4 laboratories are available for infectious disease research, including research with select agents.

Pathology Services

Necropsies, clinical chemistry, hematology, histology, bacteriology, virology, parasitology.

Immunology Services

Flow cytometry, cytokine and hormone Luminex assays, ELISA, ELISPOT, viral screening, cell separation.

Imaging Services

PET, MRI, ultrasound, neurocognitive assessment, image analysis, transcranial magnetic stimulation, event-related potentials.

Data Services

Colony database system, genetic analysis software, genetic typing services.

Contact Information

Texas Biomedical Research Institute
Southwest National Primate Research Center
8715 W. Military Drive
San Antonio, TX 78227-5302
snprc.org

Principal Investigator

Larry S. Schlesinger, M.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
lschlesinger@txbiomed.org 

Other/Resource Contacts

Corinna Ross, Ph.D.
Interim Director
Phone: 210-258-9298
cross@txbiomed.org

Grant Number: P51OD011092

Research Emphasis/Objectives

The Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) is engaged in a spectrum of studies based in the scientific research divisions of Metabolic Health and Disease, Genetics, Neuroscience, Pathobiology and Immunology, and Reproductive and Developmental Sciences. Collaborative research that is initiated by external investigators is managed through the Collaborative Research Unit (CRU).

Current Research

• Metabolic Health and Disease: Diet-induced obesity, metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, adipose and islet biology, cardiovascular disease.
• Genetics: Complex trait analysis, development of nonhuman primate (NHP) rare disease models, functional analysis of genome sequencing data, genome evolution, epigenetics and single-cell genomics. Research spans the fields of reproductive biology, neuroscience, cardiometabolic health, and pathobiology.
• Neuroscience: Research on fundamental and integrative mechanisms underlying nervous system dysfunctions and resultant disease states using the major scientific disciplines of neuroendocrinology, neurodevelopment, neurodegeneration, addiction, aging, and primate genetics. Specific technologies are produced and utilized, including novel methods to acquire in vivo imaging data, measure cognitive performance, introduce and assess genetic therapeutics, provide functional neuroanatomical links to behavior, and identify informative phenotypes for genetic analysis of traits.
• Pathobiology and Immunology: Cellular and molecular events controlling pathogenesis and immune responses of clinically important infectious agents (HIV/SIV, herpes family viruses, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, yellow fever virus, dengue, Chikungunya virus), novel vaccine development, and research in basic primate immunology, immune senescence, and biodefense.
• Reproductive and Developmental Sciences: Regulation of neuroendocrine, gonadal, reproductive tract and gamete function as related to advancing our understanding of reproductive physiology, the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, and the creation of novel contraceptives, as well as defining the genetic and epigenetic parameters necessary for normal growth and development.

Animal Colony and Resources

• Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), ~4,200
• Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), ~350
• Cynomolgus macaques, ~100
• Baboons (Papio anubis), relatively few
• Squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus), relatively few

Specialized Animal Resources

• Aging Resource (aged rhesus macaque cohort)
• Infectious Disease Resource
• Precision Medicine Resource
• Obese Resource (rhesus macaque models of diet-induced obesity)
• Behavioral Sciences Unit
• Timed Mated Breeding Program
• Infant Laboratory
• Animal Biosafety Level 3 (ABSL-3) animal research facilities for rodents and NHPs

Colony care and maintenance are the responsibility of the Division of Animal Resources and Research Support (ARRS), which includes 17 full-time veterinarians and about 153 support staff.

Services Provided

To Outside Investigators

Tissue specimens, organs, etc., are available from the Pathology Services Tissue Procurement Program. Costs are assumed by the requestor.

To Collaborating Scientists

Scientists wishing to conduct research at the ONPRC must have their projects approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Institutional Biosafety Committee, and Research Advisory Committee (RAC). The RAC does not typically evaluate proposals that undergo formal peer review by national review panels (i.e., NIH, U.S. Department of Defense, etc.). Investigators interested in collaborative work who do not have an existing relationship with an ONPRC investigator should direct enquiries to the CRU, which is headed by the Associate Director for Research (contact information below).

Collaborators have access to ONPRC research support cores and other services, which are listed below. Most services are provided on a fee-for-service basis.

Research Cores

• Assisted Reproductive Technologies: Procedures related to in vitro fertilization, nuclear transfer, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, culture media, gamete preservation.
• Bioinformatics and Biostatistics: Custom analyses for RNAseq, MethylSeq, whole-genome sequencing, whole-exome sequencing, variant discovery studies in NHP, mouse, or viral genomes.
• Endocrine Technologies: Steroid and protein hormone assays, including LC-MS/MS, Luminex, ELISAs, IRMAs, and RIAs; assay development.
• Flow Cytometry: Flow analysis and sorting.
• Integrated Pathology. Research histology processing, including tissue embedding and sectioning, slide preparation and scanning, staining, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, etc.; multiple microscopy platforms, including confocal, fluorescent, and laser-capture microscopy and stereology.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging: 3T Siemens magnet with Prisma upgrade, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, MRI training.
• Molecular Virology: Production of viral vectors and/or antigens from adenovirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), rhesus rhadinovirus (RRV), simian foamy virus (SFV), simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), and vaccinia (MVA). DNA synthesis and sequencing, cDNA probes, real-time PCR, maintenance of cell lines, media preparation, and lentivirus design and preparation. Viral diagnostic services span the range from tissue processing, extraction of viral DNA and RNA to highly sensitive detection of CMV and SIV viral loads in plasma, tissues, and excretions, virus isolation, co-cultures, and virus antibody serology.
• Primate Genetics. NHP DNA Bank (managing over 35,000 NHP samples from 11 NHP species), major histocompatibility complex (MHC) allele analysis, macaque ancestry assay and molecular parentage validation.

Additional Services

• Primate Multimodality Imaging Center: Dedicated 7,700 sq. ft. building for NHP in vivo imaging that operates a wide variety of radiologic imaging systems, protocols, and support services with equipment resources (angiography, ultrasound, CT, radionuclide imaging, PET, and X-ray), tracer development resources, and expertise necessary for guiding the creation and implementation of imaging protocols.
• Pathology Services Tissue Procurement Program: Necropsies, tissue distribution, consultation.
• Diagnostic Pathology and Clinical Laboratory Services: Bacteriology, biochemistry, hematology, parasitology, pathology, virology.

Primate Medicine

Preventive medicine and epidemiologic evaluation, surgery, radiology, therapeutics, specialized medical procedures.

Contact Information

Oregon National Primate Research Center
Oregon Health & Science University
505 N.W. 185th Avenue
Beaverton, OR 97006-3499
ONPRC | OHSU

Principal Investigator

Peter Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D.
Chief Research Officer and Executive Vice President
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, OR 97239

Additional Contacts

Rudolf (Skip) Bohm, D.V.M., DACLAM
ONPRC Director
Phone: 503-346-5005
bohm@ohsu.edu

John Hennebold, Ph.D.
ONPRC Associate Director for Research
Phone: 503-346-5006
henneboj@ohsu.edu