Thursday, April 25, 2024
4/25/2024
Abstract: The HIV/AIDS research portfolio at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center (YNPRC) has grown from $21M to $34.1M over the past six years. This increase in HIV/AIDS grants has resulted in an unsustainable demand for SPF rhesus macaques to support the research. YNPRC has been forced to obtain over 320 animals over three years from external vendors to fill research requests and rhesus macaques are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain. Bringing in animals from external vendors for research, results in significant delays in assignments impacting HIV/AIDS research. In order to meet the current and projected future research demand, YNPRC is proposing to build new animal housing at the Yerkes Field Station to facilitate expansion of the SPF breeding colony. The new animal housing proposed will be a novel housing design that integrates traditional large indoor/ outdoor breeding space into a building that includes smaller run housing space as well. The new run housing will be comprised of traditional indoor run space with accompanying enlarged outdoor run space with a natural substrate for flooring. This combination of compound and run space will maximize breeding potential and facilitate targeted genetic breeding in smaller groups in runs to support specific genotype requests for AIDS/HIV research. The new building will enhance animal welfare with natural substrate in the runs as well as the outdoor compound and include functional features incorporated into the design that will improve animal handling and increase efficiency for personnel. The proposed new animal housing at the Field Station will allow for significant expansion of the SPF rhesus macaque colony over the next five years, thus providing additional animals to support the large HIV/AIDS research program for both internal and external investigators at Yerkes.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
