# Contribute to the breeding expansion and to the genetic diversity at California NPRC

> **NIH NIH P40** · UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MED SCIENCES · 2021 · $230,394

## Abstract

Project Summary
Nonhuman primates (NHP) models for human disease are essential for biomedical research. The underlying
physiology and metabolism, as well as anatomical and genomic structures of nonhuman primates are more
similar to humans than are other mammalian animal models. Macaques are the most commonly used nonhuman
primates in biomedical research. The similarities between human and rhesus macaques make these animals
outstanding models for the study of infectious disease pathogenesis such as in malaria, dengue and Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), of vaccine development for a variety of infectious agents, and of human
pathologies. In addition, nonhuman primates are needed as models for biodefense research initiatives
particularly for vaccine development against agents with potential use in bio-warfare.
In 2020, the ongoing unforeseen COVID-19 pandemic added an additional stress to the already tenuous NHP
supply by increasing the demand around the world. Because of that, the NPRCs, with the support of NIH/ORIP,
launched an initiative to establish the NHP Strategic Reserve (NSR). At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the
Caribbean Primate Research Center (CPRC) was in the position to supply animals, immediately, in support of
COVID-19 research which has resulted in a topmost contribution to science. Scientific results generated with
CPRC's contribution are available in top journals like Science, Nature, and Journal of Experimental Medicine
among others. In addition, underscoring the value of this NIH/ORIP-funded resource, and as one early step in
the development of the NSR, CPRC has been willing and proactively engaged in agreements with some NPRCs
in order to supply high quality animals to expand their breeding population and to increase their genetic
diversity. This Administrative Supplement seek to supply high quality Indian-origin rhesus macaques, born and
breed at the CPRC, to expand the breeding capabilities and the genetic pool at California National Primate
Research Center.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10440774
- **Project number:** 3P40OD012217-34S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MED SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Melween I. Martinez
- **Activity code:** P40 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $230,394
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1987-04-15 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10440774

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10440774, Contribute to the breeding expansion and to the genetic diversity at California NPRC (3P40OD012217-34S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10440774. Licensed CC0.

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