# Housing to Improve Welfare for M. nemestrina Breeding Colony at the WaNPRC

> **NIH NIH R24** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2024 · $349,501

## Abstract

SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This proposal is a request to purchase and install pen housing for groups of nonhuman primates. These pens
will be used primarily to house harem breeding groups of pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina). The
Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC) manages the largest domestic breeding colony of
the pigtail macaque, M. nemestrina, to provide animal models for use in biomedical research. To save costs,
the bulk of the breeding colony is housed at the WaNPRC’s Arizona Breeding Colony (ABC). However, this
requires that animals be transported to Seattle for research assignments. Some research projects require the
use of pregnant animals or pre-weaned juveniles, and it is necessary to breed animals in Seattle to meet these
needs. Currently this breeding is performed in a timed-mating pair-housing situation.
Installation of breeding pens in Seattle will increase production and efficiency while improving animal welfare.
Housing animals in harem groups will eliminate the need for monitoring female reproductive cycles, scheduling
mating days, and introducing breeding pairs. Housing the breeding animals in pens rather than individual cages
improves overall animal welfare in two ways: Socialization in groups provides significantly improved
psychological well-being when compared to single housing or even pair housing, and the increased total space
(horizontal and vertical) in pens compared to cages improves both physical and psychological well-being. The
cost of pens is significantly lower than the cost of cages per sq ft of floor space. In summary, this project will:
1) Increase efficiency of Seattle breeding program.
2) Improve animal welfare by increasing socialization and housing space.
3) Increase animal availability and decrease lead time for initiating research projects.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10985165
- **Project number:** 1R24OD037700-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** CHARLOTTE HOTCHKISS
- **Activity code:** R24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $349,501
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10985165

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10985165, Housing to Improve Welfare for M. nemestrina Breeding Colony at the WaNPRC (1R24OD037700-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10985165. Licensed CC0.

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