# An innovative approach to nonhuman primate management with RFID tracking.

> **NIH NIH R24** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $337,048

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
An Innovative Approach to Nonhuman Primate Management with RFID Tracking
The Emory National Primate Research Center (EPC) maintains a specific pathogen free (SPF)
rhesus macaque breeding colony of approximately 2500 animals that supports a rich research
portfolio of over $55 million in nonhuman primate grants in FY22 alone. This large SPF rhesus
breeding colony is maintained in large indoor/ outdoor social groups at the EPC Field Station
and has been managed to increase production over the past 10 years to meet the high demand
for research assignments. The successful colony growth has placed pressure on personnel
resources to support the growing breeding colony. In an effort to streamline operations, save on
personnel expenses and enhance animal welfare, the EPC is proposing to implement a novel
RFID tracking tunnel system in the large breeding compounds to passively track individual
monkeys and perform census counts without disruption of the social groups. Integrating this
proposed RFID tracking system to replace the current manual census counts will significantly
improve operational efficiency and allow personnel time to focus on other breeding colony
management objectives resulting in increased production in the colony. This increased
production will support the research projects at the EPC as well as the national demand for
NHPs for research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10736592
- **Project number:** 1R24OD035466-01
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Joyce Kimberly Cohen
- **Activity code:** R24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $337,048
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10736592

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10736592, An innovative approach to nonhuman primate management with RFID tracking. (1R24OD035466-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10736592. Licensed CC0.

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