# MHC Genetic Typing Core

> **NIH NIH U42** · TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA · 2024 · $59,624

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract - MHC Genetic Typing Core
The SPF rhesus macaque breeding colony for AIDS research at the Tulane National Primate Research Center
(TNPRC) is part of an extensive evidence-based, integrative, program that incorporates best practices in health
surveillance, husbandry, preventive medicine, and behavioral and genetic management. The goals of the genetic
management program are to 1) maintain genetic diversity and minimize inbreeding to support sustainable
populations and 2) characterize class I MHC alleles in support of HIV/AIDS research activities. To this end, the
TNPRC Genome Bank collects and stores materials from more than 9000 unique animals, with additional
animals collected as they are produced. The colony is characterized for ancestral geographic-origin and
parentage confirmed using a pan-NPRC SNP panel. MHC typing for all animals includes testing for 10 class I
alleles, which serves the needs of most core and affiliate scientists, and MHC deep sequencing in collaboration
with the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center for targeted research programs. Over the previous grant
funding period whole genome sequencing (WGS) has been added for 164 key breeders, focusing on those males
with the greatest reproductive output in the breeding colony, and whole exome sequencing (WES) from 72
additional animals. Funding for WGS on an additional 200 animals during the coming budget period is also
anticipated. These efforts are supported by core TNPRC scientists in collaboration with researchers from other
NPRCs and research institutions. These efforts are made in concert with the broader NPRC community through
consortia activities, notably, the Nonhuman Primate Genetics and Genomics Working Group. Presently, the
efforts of the genetic management program and MHC Genetic Typing Core are to continue to provide high-
quality MHC characterization of the SPF breeding colony in support of HIV/AIDS research, to integrate MHC
typing with other genetic and genomic data currently being characterized at the TNPRC, and to develop
additional support structures for sharing this data with the research community. These efforts ensure the SPF
rhesus macaque breeding colony is healthy, sustainable, and of maximal translational research value to the
broader HIV/AIDS research community.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10764706
- **Project number:** 5U42OD010568-22
- **Recipient organization:** TULANE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
- **Principal Investigator:** Eric J. Vallender
- **Activity code:** U42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $59,624
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2001-08-09 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10764706

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10764706, MHC Genetic Typing Core (5U42OD010568-22). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10764706. Licensed CC0.

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