# Core B: Viral Testing Core

> **NIH NIH U42** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $333,548

## Abstract

Core B - Viral Testing Core: Project Summary
The expanded Specific Pathogen Free (eSPF) colony is an essential resource for the production of Indian-
origin rhesus macaques free from an extended list of pathogens which are used as models of AIDS-defining
opportunistic infections or vaccine vector development, have the potential to confound HIV research, or have
the potential to cause serious disease in staff working with macaques. Since its inception, the animals
produced in the ONPRC U42 eSPF Rhesus Macaque Breeding Colony have been extensively used for the
study of virus-host interactions and pathogenesis, basic immunology, AIDS-related opportunistic infections and
vaccine development. The scope of the need for eSPF animals is far greater than the support of AIDS
opportunistic infection and HIV vaccine development research. CMV infections are widespread in human
populations, and they contribute to a significant burden of disease. Developing effective vaccines that prevent
their infection has proven difficult and remains a national priority. Rhesus macaques free of CMV have, and will
continue to play, an essential role in the development of effective CMV vaccines. The three National Primate
Research Center eSPF rhesus macaque breeding colonies are currently the only source of these animals. The
Viral Testing Core has an essential role in improving and maintaining the microbial integrity of the ONPRC
eSPF breeding colony. This role will be fulfilled by providing state-of-the-art serologic and virologic assays for
serologic monitoring of the colony and agent detection, respectively. The overall objective of the Viral Testing
Core is to provide high quality screening and confirmatory testing services for surveillance of the ONPRC U42
eSPF Rhesus Macaque Breeding Colony.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11084017
- **Project number:** 2U42OD023038-09A1
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Andrew Haertel
- **Activity code:** U42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $333,548
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-08-01 → 2028-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11084017

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11084017, Core B: Viral Testing Core (2U42OD023038-09A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11084017. Licensed CC0.

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