# Squirrel Monkey Breeding and Research Resource: Applied Research

> **NIH NIH P40** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 2020 · $41,729

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY: APPLIED RESEARCH COMPONENT
 The Squirrel Monkey Breeding and Research Resource (SMBRR), P40 OD010938 has received
continuous NIH grant support since 1980. The SMBRR's proposed applied research projects include projects
that will broaden the application and usefulness of the resource for the user community, as well as provide
information that will allow for better management of the colony itself. Immunology research proposed will
continue work from Dr. Nehete's lab on defining and characterizing the squirrel monkey immune system. This
project will provide insights into the similarities and differences in squirrel monkey immune cells compared to
those of human beings. Additionally, these studies will identify new reagents that cross react with squirrel
monkey lymphocyte subsets and adjuvants that can be used to deliver vaccines. The gut microbiome study
proposed will explore microbiome populations in squirrel monkeys of differing ages and sex. There is a growing
body of evidence that changes in the gut microbiome can affect behavior, immune function, and emotional
affect. This study will generate a preliminary, systematic map of GM taxonomic characteristics for age/sex
classes in each Saimiri species as well as a comparison of gut microbiota traits in Saimiri species. This map
will contribute to eliminating gaps in our knowledge of how GM composition varies among age/sex classes and
host species and how this might affect the health of these species. The behavioral studies proposed
complement an ongoing NIH funded project to study cerebral amyloid angiopathy in squirrel monkeys. They
also represent the beginning of an effort to develop a behavioral phenotyping program as part of the SMBRR.
All of the studies proposed in the Applied Research Component pursue scientific questions about squirrel
monkey biology and behavior that will allow us to enhance the value of the resource.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9933394
- **Project number:** 2P40OD010938-40
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** LAWRENCE E Williams
- **Activity code:** P40 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $41,729
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9933394

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9933394, Squirrel Monkey Breeding and Research Resource: Applied Research (2P40OD010938-40). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9933394. Licensed CC0.

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