Sheltered Outdoor Housing Expansion for the TNPRC SPF Rhesus Macaque Breeding Colony

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PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT The Tulane National Primate Research Center (TNPRC) of Tulane University is one of seven National Primate Research Centers (NPRC) sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. The Center is dedicated to providing the infrastructure and support for basic and applied research efforts to advance scientific knowledge and improve human and animal health and well-being. The NPRC program provides resources and opportunities for research using nonhuman primates (NHP) to core faculty and faculty affiliated with outside institutions. The TNPRC specific pathogen free (SPF) rhesus macaque breeding colony is among the largest in the NPRC program, with a census of approximately 5,000. Over the past 5 years, the TNPRC SPF breeding colonies have supplied 2,099 animals for research programs of core and affiliate investigators across the US. There continues to be high national demand for SPF rhesus macaques which cannot be met by current NPRC breeding operations. In 2018, the NIH sponsored the NHP Evaluation and Analysis Project to enhance understanding of the demand for and supply of NHP within the US. Key recommendations made to ensure the adequate supply of NHPs for biomedical research included improving infrastructure and providing support for SPF NHP breeding colony expansion. Since the results of the 2018 report were made public, the TNPRC has undertaken assessments to identify the needs of the program to expand its SPF rhesus macaque breeding colony. Along with funding from the NIH, the TNPRC has committed funds and initiated projects to: 1) improve the breeding colony management program and 2) expand infrastructure to meet the current and projected future national demand. Principal components of the long-term plan for infrastructure improvement are to increase the number of indoor/outdoor housing configurations for added protection of NHP from inclement weather and complement the existing outdoor NHP housing enclosures. Funding is requested to construct indoor/outdoor enclosures located on the breeding colony campus for the purpose of housing and breeding SPF rhesus macaques. This project will add facilities to support our commitment to expand production of SPF rhesus macaques used for NIH-established priority research areas at the TNPRC and nationally. The facilities have been designed in alignment with our long-term infrastructure improvement plan to enhance protection of animals, increase housing capacity and flexibility, and provide novel and proven environmental enhancement components. The animals produced as a result of this infrastructure improvement project will help address the national shortage of SPF macaques.