# WaNPRC Macaca nemestrina SPF Breeding Colony

> **NIH NIH U42** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2020 · $571,856

## Abstract

Summary:
The goal of this project is to maintain and enhance the specific pathogen free (SPF) pigtail macaque (M.
nemestrina) breeding colony at the Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC). This colony is
the only major domestic breeding colony of M. nemestrina and the primary source of this important animal
model for AIDS studies and other types of biomedical research in the United States. M. nemestrina have
unique immunological, genetic, behavioral, anatomical, and physiological characteristics that make them an
essential model in a number of areas of research related to HIV/AIDS. Specific pathogens (SIV, SRV, STLV-1,
McHV-1) are a threat to animal or human health, or interfere with research and must be excluded to optimize
nonhuman primate research models. In this proposal we discuss how we will maintain the WaNPRC SPF M.
nemestrina breeding colony to provide animals of the highest quality to meet research needs. The SPF colony
is housed at two locations, the Arizona Breeding Colony (ABC) which is an integral part of the WaNPRC, and
at the New Iberia Research Center (NIRC). Having animals at two sites raises some challenges, but provides
for contingencies in case of adverse events, and we have established lines of communication to ensure
consistency. At both sites we will use innovative bioinformatics tools to increase cost effectiveness by
maximizing production per animal. In addition, in our Seattle Infant Primate Research Laboratory (IPRL) we
will initiate breeding for the production of expanded SPF M. nemestrina, which will be free of simian foamy
virus (SFV), cytomegalovirus (MnCMV), rhadinovirus (MnRV), and simian varicella (SVV). Viral exclusion
testing for all present and future excluded viruses will be performed by the Primate Diagnostic Services
Laboratory (PDSL) through the virology core. We will use state-of-the-art genomics to characterize the
animals, focusing on expressed alleles in the MHC region through the MHC Genetic Typing Core.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10203135
- **Project number:** 3U42OD011123-16S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** CHARLOTTE HOTCHKISS
- **Activity code:** U42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $571,856
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2002-09-30 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10203135

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10203135, WaNPRC Macaca nemestrina SPF Breeding Colony (3U42OD011123-16S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-31 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10203135. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*