Nonhuman Primates
SFBR is home of the Southwest National Primate Research Center.
SFBR is perhaps best known for its world-class colony of nonhuman
primates. Because of their close similarity to humans in genetics
and physiology, these animals fill a unique and critical role
in efforts to understand human health and disease. Like people,
they are susceptible to complex diseases such as atherosclerosis
(hardening of the arteries), diabetes and osteoporosis, as
well as various infectious diseases. By studying these animals
in a controlled environment, scientists can develop a better
understanding of the biological processes that underlie and
contribute to disease. They then can use this information
to develop new, more effective ways to prevent and treat disease
for the benefit of both humans and animals.
This makes the Foundation's primate colony
a tremendous resource, both for SFBR researchers and their
collaborators throughout the country and around the world.
SFBR is home to approximately 3,200 nonhuman primates, including
chimpanzees and a variety of monkey species. By far the
majority, though, are baboons. With approximately 2,200
of these animals, SFBR has the world's largest colony of
baboons for biomedical research. Approximately 1,500 of
these baboons are part of a unique pedigreed colony, on
which scientists have maintained complete family, health
and genetic histories for seven generations. Essentially all
of the animals in the pedigreed colony have been genotyped,
and that information has been used by SFBR scientists to
create a baboon genetic linkage map, the first gene map of
any nonhuman primate. Together, the pedigreed colony and
the baboon gene map give scientists an incredibly powerful
research tool for finding the genes that underlie natural
susceptibility to or protection from a variety of diseases.
Because of SFBR's extraordinary primate
resources and its distinguished history in the humane and
appropriate use of animals in research, the National Institutes
of Health awarded funding in 1999 for it to establish the
Southwest National
Primate Research Center. This made SFBR home to the first
new national primate research center since the program was established in the 1960s. One of eight
in the country, it is the only primate center in the Southwest.
The primate center designation and related funding have enabled
SFBR to further develop its primate colony, enhance its animal
facilities, and expand its role as a resource for biomedical
research organizations across the United States.
Click here to access SNPRC resources.
Biosafety Level 4 Laboratory
